Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool's season depends on Luis Suarez's decision

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has expressed concerns about Liverpool’s next season after stating that the club’s season depends on whether they can keep hold of Luis Suarez.

The captain has advised the Uruguayan striker to stay at Anfield and said that if Suarez is desperate to leave ho should consider going only to Real Madrid or Barcelona and not Arsenal.

According to Gerrard, an in-from Suarez could make the difference for Liverpool in their quest for Champions League place.

Gerard told the Independent: “It’s difficult every season to finish in the top-four positions because of the power the likes of Man City, Chelsea and Manchester United have got at the moment, the likes of us, Tottenham and Arsenal are fighting to sneak into the other place that’s available.

“Where we sit actually right now, it all depends on what decision Luis Suarez makes in the next few weeks. If we lose him then the challenge becomes even more difficult. It’s that simple.

“If he goes to Arsenal, it obviously makes our season that little bit more difficult. It strengthens them an awful lot and they are our rivals for a top-four position. From the club’s point of view it doesn’t make sense at all, no matter how much money is put on the table.”

Gerrard also said that in his opinion Suarez is “the third best player in the world” after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and that even if the 26-year-old believes his future lay elsewhere, he should not consider going to any other than Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“If he was to go abroad to a Madrid or Barcelona I would totally understand it,” he said. “He’s a South American. He’s good enough to play in either of those teams. From a family point of view, it’s where they all want to be. If I was him I would wait for one of those two clubs because I think he’s good enough to play for them.”