Steven Gerrard: 'Arsenal not a step up for Luis Suarez'

Steven Gerrard has urged Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool this season and insists that joining Arsenal would not be a move in the right direction.

Arsenal bid £40,000,001 for the striker earlier in the summer, which was dismissed by Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.

Gerrard believes that moving to the Gunners would be a sideways step for Suarez, but reveals that there are a few clubs he might consider leaving for.

"I don't want to disrespect Arsenal because they are a fantastic club, but I don't see joining them as being a step forward for Luis," he told The Mirror.

"There are only really two or three clubs he should leave this football club for if he is taking a step forward.

"If we don't qualify for the ­Champions League this ­season he can go to Real Madrid, ­Barcelona or Bayern Munich – and he can go with his head held high."

Gerrard also said that it was important that Suarez did not ruin his relationship with Liverpool's supporters.

He added: "I understand we're a little bit off the Champions League here at the moment, but I think he would ruin the relationship he has got with the supporters here if he went to another ­English club."

Suarez joined Liverpool from Ajax in 2011.