The in-form striker says that a link-up with the Uruguayan would have been great but the similarities between himself and the Napoli forward meant that they would have clashed

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud says that he would have relished the opportunity to play alongside summer transfer target Luis Suarez but was less enthusiastic about the prospect of signing Gonzalo Higuain.
The Frenchman has been in lethal form at the start of this season, scoring in all four of the Gunners’ Premier League games so far and feels that he could have benefited even more from the Uruguayan’s versatility, though Liverpool held firm through several bids and kept hold of their prize forward.

Giroud told L’Equipe: “When the name of Suarez was circulating, I honestly thought it was a good thing for the team.

“We would’ve complemented each other. Suarez can also play out wide. It would have been difficult for me with another player.”

Before attempting to sign Suarez, the Gunners had been locked in negotiations to sign Higuain from Real Madrid. However, the Spanish club held out for a bigger offer and eventually sold the Argentine to Napoli.

Giroud, however, says he would have been “bothered” by Higuain’s arrival, as their similar roles would have made them more direct rivals for a first-team place.

“We would have been in direct competition because he is a pure central striker,” Giroud added of the now-Napoli man. “Of course, at the time, it would have bothered me a bit but I was not afraid of competition.”

The Danish defender missed Monday’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City, having “overstretched trying to prevent a dumbbell falling on his foot”, and is now a doubt to face Southampton

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger missed his side’s 2-2 draw with Swansea City due to a “freak” injury, manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

The Denmark international was replaced by debutant Mamadou Sakho for the draw in Wales on Monday after injuring his ribs in the gym and is now a doubt for Saturday’s clash against Southampton at Anfield.

“It’s too early to say whether he will be fit for Saturday,” Rodgers told the press.

“He had a real freak incident in the gym. Just before he was coming out to train, he overstretched trying to prevent a dumbbell falling on his foot.

“He has overstretched and yanked his side. We are waiting to see if that settles down over the next few days. If it doesn’t, we have got ample replacements. That is why we brought in extra players.”

With Agger sidelined, Sakho made his Liverpool bow at the Liberty Stadium following his £18 million move from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day and the manager was pleased with his performance.

“Sakho did very well,” Rodgers enthused. “I thought he was excellent and assured. Once he gets used to working with us, he will improve.”

Sakho’s manager at PSG last season, Carlo Ancelotti, also feels that the 23-year-old will develop well in England.

The current Real Madrid boss told L’Equipe: “I exchanged SMS [messages] with Mamadou Sakho when he was transferred to Liverpool and I wished him good luck. This is a championship which suits him.”

Two errors from Jonjo Shelvey gifted the visitors both of their goals, but the former Reds youngster redeemed himself with a goal and assist in a pulsating match

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased with a point after his side’s 2-2 draw with Swansea on Monday.

A second-half Michu equaliser denied the visitors all three points, ending their winning run as their clean sheet record also came to an end despite goals from Daniel Sturridge and debutant Victor Moses.

However, after going behind to a Jonjo Shelvey goal two minutes in, Rodgers was pleased with how his side battled back. 

“Tonight a point is good for us,” he told Sky Sports.

“The first 65 minutes of the game we were very good with and without the ball. We showed great character to come from behind so early on in the game and [Philippe] Coutinho going off probably disrupted the flow of our game.

“It was two teams that were offensive and wanted to win the game. We came here to maintain our winning streak but it’s important that when you can’t win, you don’t lose.”

Shelvey had an eventful match against his former employers, with two poor passes allowing Liverpool to lead at the break. 

However, Rodgers insisted that the 21-year-old will learn from the experience and become a better player for it. 

“Jonjo is a very very good young player and he showed that in his first goal by getting in the box and putting it [his goal] away well,” Rodgers continued. 

“He needs nights like this. I didn’t want him to go and he probably didn’t want to go but he knew it was in his best interests as a young footballer to go and play.

“He got caught out a couple of times which obviously led to our goals but he’ll be better for the experience and he’ll develop into a very good player.”

The win edges Liverpool back into top spot, despite dropping their first points of the season. 

With Luis Suarez set to return from his 10-match suspension for biting Branislav Ivanovic last season, Rodgers believes that the Urugyuan will provide a boost for his side. 

“We’ve still got one of the best strikers in the world to come back into our team,” Rodgers continued, adding that Coutinho was “very sore” after he was forced off following a challenge from Ashley s in the second half.