London - Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton says the Reds must sell Luis Suarez because he’ll become a disruptive influence in the changing room, reports talkSPORT.
“They should let him go. It’s as simple as that. There’s no player bigger than any club, and certainly not Liverpool Football Club. There have been bigger players than Luis Suarez who have left," Houghton told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show.
“You don’t want a player like that at the club. He’s going to be moping about in the changing room because he hasn’t got the move he wants.”
Houghton, who played 153 games for Liverpool between 1987 and 1992, also feels Liverpool fans would like to see the striker leave.
“It seems to me he’s tried to manufacture a move. Whether that’s to Arsenal, or if he thinks Real Madrid will come in for him, then there, but only time will tell. If Liverpool has made a promise he could join a Champions League side then he’s well within his rights to go to the club and say, ‘look, as far as I’m concerned there was an agreement I could move on’.
“But this is a guy who has come out and said he’s got a problem with the English media, so why would he want to go to another English club?
“Is this just another story to get a move? It’s nothing to do with the media. He could have kept quiet, waited, then turned around and said there was a verbal agreement that he could move on if the club didn’t get into the Champions League.
“He would have been in a far stronger position. The fans would have accepted it and let him go with their best wishes. At the moment though, the way things have transpired, with what he’s said, it doesn’t sit well.
“He’s burned his bridges. The Liverpool fans are very loyal to players as long as you show a bit of loyalty back.”
“They should let him go. It’s as simple as that. There’s no player bigger than any club, and certainly not Liverpool Football Club. There have been bigger players than Luis Suarez who have left," Houghton told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show.
“You don’t want a player like that at the club. He’s going to be moping about in the changing room because he hasn’t got the move he wants.”
Houghton, who played 153 games for Liverpool between 1987 and 1992, also feels Liverpool fans would like to see the striker leave.
“It seems to me he’s tried to manufacture a move. Whether that’s to Arsenal, or if he thinks Real Madrid will come in for him, then there, but only time will tell. If Liverpool has made a promise he could join a Champions League side then he’s well within his rights to go to the club and say, ‘look, as far as I’m concerned there was an agreement I could move on’.
“But this is a guy who has come out and said he’s got a problem with the English media, so why would he want to go to another English club?
“Is this just another story to get a move? It’s nothing to do with the media. He could have kept quiet, waited, then turned around and said there was a verbal agreement that he could move on if the club didn’t get into the Champions League.
“He would have been in a far stronger position. The fans would have accepted it and let him go with their best wishes. At the moment though, the way things have transpired, with what he’s said, it doesn’t sit well.
“He’s burned his bridges. The Liverpool fans are very loyal to players as long as you show a bit of loyalty back.”