Suarez denies having a change of heart

TOKYO: Unsettled Liverpool striker Luis Suarez denied a report yesterday saying that he had decided to stay at Anfield, according to Japanese media.

The 26-year-old scored with a rocket, and provided the ammunition for two quick-fire Diego Forlan goals as Uruguay overpowered Japan 4-2 away in a pulsating friendly.

The Arsenal target had been quoted beforehand as saying in an interview from Japan with the Uruguayan newspaper El Observador that he would stay with Liverpool.

But speaking after masterminding his country to a comfortable win, he denied that he had had a change of heart. “I didn’t say that, maybe someone else did and the main thing is that I am here now with the national team,” Japan’s Kyodo News quoted him as saying.

Liverpool have had two bids from Arsenal rejected, and Suarez has been made to train on his own by manager Brendan Rodgers after accusing the club of breaking promises by refusing to let him leave. Before the friendly with Japan, Suarez had been quoted as saying: “Right now, because of all the affection of the people, I’ll be staying.”

On Tuesday, captain Steven Gerrard said he would hate to see Suarez leave Anfield and he was confident that he would not be joining another English club. Suarez has scored 51 goals in 96 games for Liverpool after joining from Dutch giants Ajax in January 2011, but is keen to leave to fulfil his Champions League ambitions. – AFP