Liverpool will survive the departure of Luis Suarez, says Brendan Rodgers
Reds manager has faith in revival of team with the arrival of fresh talent like Adam Lallana
Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool will be even stronger next season despite the departure of star striker and World Cup villain Luis Suarez.
Suarez agreed on a £75 million (HK$995 million) move to Barcelona on Friday and the Uruguayan will soon travel to Spain for a medical before officially completing the transfer.
The 27-year-old scored 82 goals in 133 appearances for Liverpool and his remarkable tally of 31 in 33 league matches last season helped the Reds qualify for the Champions League and come close to winning the English title for the first time in 24 years.
I am confident we will improve the team further and will be stronger for this coming season, when we will be competing on all fronts
But his stay at Anfield was marred by a series of controversial incidents, which included suspensions for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
Suarez was in trouble again during the World Cup, when he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, earning a nine-match international suspension and a four-month ban from all football.
That latest indiscretion prompted Liverpool's owner John Henry to cash in on Suarez, but the fee will be reinvested in strengthening the squad and Rodgers expects to reap the rewards.
"I am confident we will improve the team further and will be stronger for this coming season, when we will be competing on all fronts; domestically and in the greatest club competition in the world, the Champions League," Rodgers said.
