Brendan Rodgers Insists Liverpool Will Continue Moving Forward After Suarez's Departure

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident that the club will continue to progress in the right direction despite the sale of Luis Suarez.

The Reds have agreed to part ways with the Uruguayan international, whose 31 goals and 12 assists propelled them into second place in the Premier League last season.

The 27-year-old picked up PFA Player of the Year and FWA Player of the Year awards but stole the headlines for wrong reasons at the World Cup.

After being handed a four-month ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, talks about the former Ajax star's departure gathered pace with Barcelona showing utmost interest.

However, Rodgers believes the Merseyside club will move forward in pursuit of silverwares.

"We are focused on the future, as we strive to continue with the progress we have made and build on last season's excellent Barclays Premier League campaign," Rodgers said in a statement on Liverpool's official website.

"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.

"If there is one thing the history of this great club teaches us, it is that Liverpool FC is bigger than any individual. I hope our supporters continue to dream and believe that we are moving forward and with continued improvement and progression, together we will bring the success we all crave and deserve," the former Swansea City boss added.

Suarez has moved to Barcelona for a reported £75m fee which is believed to be the amount that triggers his release clause. Rodgers also revealed that the club tried to retain the striker this summer and wished him luck for the future in La Liga.

"Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played in the team in the past two years, during my time at Liverpool. I think he would be the first to accept he has improved as a player over that period, along with the team and has benefited from being here, as we have benefited from him," the 41-year-old Northern Irishman explained.

"The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool. It is with great reluctance and following lengthy discussions we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for new experiences and challenges. We wish him and his young family well; we will always consider them to be friends," he concluded.