Liverpool legend urges 'fantastic' Suarez to stay

Liverpool legend John Barnes urged want-away striker Luis Suarez to stay, but said the club would survive if the controversial Uruguayan decided to leave.

Barnes, speaking at a promotional event in Singapore, said Suarez was not showing disloyalty by talking about changing clubs, calling it simply “a feature of modern football”.

“I would love for Luis Suarez to stay. I think he’s a fantastic player,” said the former winger.

But he added: “Players come, players go… (but) the club is the most important thing. If Suarez doesn’t want to be with Liverpool, Liverpool will (still) survive.”

Barnes said: “They survived from people before and people after. That’s football.”

Last month Suarez, who has banned for racist abuse in 2011 and is currently suspended for biting, admitted it would be difficult to turn down an offer from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

But Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has stressed that the “world-class” player is not for sale.