Brendan Rodgers: 'Luis Suarez exit stalled our progress'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the departure of Luis Suarez exit has stalled the club's progression.

The Uruguay striker joined Barcelona during the summer in a £75m deal from the Reds, after scoring 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last season.

Rodgers believes that the team must deal with the transitional period caused by Suarez's exit.

"We are going to take the short-term hit at the moment knowing that in the long term the club will be better for it," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

Liverpool are nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea following an inconsistent start to the season.