Luis Suarez to train on his own as Rodgers takes positives from Valerenga

Luis Suarez will be told to train on his own as he is outcast by the club following his latest outburst, according to Thursday’s newspapers.

The news comes the day after Suarez spoke to the Guardian and Telegraph about his discontent at not being allowed to leave Anfield.

Speaking after Wednesday’s pre-season friendly in Oslo, Brendan Rodgers told reporters:

“I will take strong, decisive action, absolutely. There has been total disrespect of the club – this is a lack of respect of a club that has given him everything. Absolutely everything.”

In quotes in The Liverpool Echo, Rodgers explained:

“There were no promises made – categorically none – and no promises broken.

“The club and his representatives had several conversations and he knew exactly where he was at.

“I think Luis knows the support he’s had at the football club and that’s something that’s been unswerving throughout the whole of last season.

“Obviously the remarks I’ve read are bitterly disappointing – but my job is bigger than that.

“My job is to fight and protect the club. The conversations I’ve had with him, he knows I’ve had and they will remain private.

“I will take strong, decisive action, absolutely. There has been total disrespect of the club – this is a lack of respect of a club that has given him everything. Absolutely everything.

“I really, really feel sorry for the supporters, people that have sung his name. We have travelled the world over the course of this pre-season. 85,00 fans were singing Luis’ name in Jakarta. It was the same in Australia, in Thailand and at Steven Gerrard‘s testimonial.”

The Mirror report:

The disgraced striker will be forced to train on his own after his astonishing outburst – cynically designed to engineer a move away from Liverpool – provoked the wrath of his manager and the club’s owners.

Feelings are running so high at the Anfield giants that it is understood chairman John Henry has vowed ‘never to sell Suarez to Arsenal’.

Read all the latest on Suarez – including comment and opinion from our writers

Away from the Suarez saga, Rodgers also spoke of his joy at seeing his side come out victorious in Norway tonight.

The Reds beat Valerenga 4-1 in their penultimate pre-season friendly, but Rodgers was disappointed to concede the team’s first goal of this summer’s pre-season campaign:

“I’m delighted with the players at the moment. I don’t think they could do anymore.

“I’m disappointed with the goal [we conceded] and I mentioned that at half-time. We’re always looking for perfection and to concede from a corner was disappointing.

“Overall, we’re in good shape. We’re continually working hard and always striving for ways to be better.

“The players have travelled all over the world [this pre-season] – their passports have been well and truly stamped on this pre-season! But their attitude has remained the same.

“We go into our last game at the weekend [against Celtic], which will be a great way to finish off the pre-season in Dublin. I’ve got no doubt we’ll be firing on all cylinders by the time Stoke City comes.

“I’m very pleased with everything, but we must strive to be better.”

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