Anfield boss hails grown-up Striker.
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Luis Suarez has matured as a person since biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in April last year.
Suarez sank his teeth into Ivanovic’s arm during the second half of a 2-2 draw at Anfield and, although he escaped a red card at the time, he was subsequently hit with a 10-game ban.
The Uruguayan has been in inspired form since returning from that hefty suspension and has netted 30 goals in 30 Premier League appearances.
His disciplinary record has also improved and he has only collected five yellow cards this season – seven fewer than Ivanovic.
Suarez and Ivanovic are likely to meet again on Sunday when Chelsea return to Anfield for a top-of-the-table clash.
However, Rodgers is not worried by thoughts of Suarez repeating his nibbling naughtiness, as he is convinced that his star striker has grown up a lot over the last 12 months.
Rodgers told Sky Sports: “He is a brilliant talent. I think the supporters have seen him mature over the course of the last season.
“I think he was in a real low moment after that game, but he has gone away and probably looked in the mirror and reflected on himself because he is not that type of guy and it probably just spilled over.
“He is a really intelligent man who fits the values of this club, which is all about humility, class and he has all of that.
“He is a sheer winner and that probably overspilled last year, but his development over the last year has been remarkable both on and off the field and Liverpool have benefited from that.
“For me he is the consistently outstanding player over the course of the last year.”
Suarez is heavily odds-on to be named PFA Players’ Player of the Year – something that no Liverpool player has done since 2006, when Steven Gerrard received the award.
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, who accused Suarez of using racist language towards him in October 2011, recently revealed that he has voted for the Reds striker to win this year’s award.
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