Rodgers to open contract talks with Suso

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will seek contract talks with Suso after the Spaniard made an impressive start to life for the Reds.

Suso has been thrust into Rodgers’ plans in recent weeks, but has impressed with several sparkling displays in midfield.

“He’s in the last year of his contract, and it’s something we will look at,” the 39-year-old said.

“We did have a couple of offers for Suso in the summer, but I always said I didn’t want him to go.

“We had offers for him to go abroad but he was keen to stay, he understood he was going to get a chance here.

“He is tactically very good, strong technically with the ball. He makes things happen. I love that type of player. Talent finds space. He is a real talent.

“He is in the reckoning and he is a good kid as well. I have noticed a big progression in him from the pre-season tour of America – I have seen a real difference in the last couple of months and he has got a good appetite for the game.

“He is on the same page in terms of the tactical idea for the team. If his fight matches his talent we will have a very good player.”

Liverpool seemed short of options after the transfer window closed with just Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini as recognised attackers, but the emergence of Suso and other youngsters like Raheem Sterling has delighted the Anfield boss.

“It’s funny how things work out,” Rodgers said. “Maybe it’s fate, maybe this is all part of the story. Sometimes things happen by design, others by necessity.

“Whichever way, the plan between the window closing and January was to see how many of the young, talented players are going to be able to come into our squad – and I’ve been very, very pleased by the impact they’ve made.

“It’s also a great demonstration that with talent and spirit and belief and hard work what you can achieve, not matter how young you are.”

Rodgers has also been impressed by his players’ commitment recently, and claimed the hard work of some had highlighted which members of his squad had not been pulling their weight.

“Yes, it makes my job easy. In fact, my job couldn’t be easier because if you are fighting and someone else isn’t, it is so easy,” he said.

“Lots of others in the team are putting their bodies on the line and the ones that don’t stand out like a sore thumb.”