Brendan Rodgers says that last summer’s saga involving Luis Suarez made him a far better manager.
The Liverpool striker tried to force through a move to Arsenal in the close season as he went in search of Champions League football.
The Reds, however, insisted that the 27-year-old Uruguayan stay at Anfield and he has turned his reputation around by signing a new long-term deal at the club and scoring 23 goals in the Premier League so far.
Rodgers reflected: “Yes, it made me a better manager because it is a problem which you don’t get as a scenario when you are doing your coaching badges, and how you deal with it can make you.
“It was about managing the situation and always being honest about the situation. That is what you get paid for.
“I knew first and foremost the human qualities of Luis.
“He is a good man. He is a very generous human being and I have found him very amicable in everything I have spoken with him on.
“He was in a difficult place in the summer and I understood where he was at, I had empathy for his situation.
“I have watched Champions League games for many years and he is a player who wants to be at that level and deserves to be at that level.
“But we had to protect the club and hopefully sell to him that this was still the place for him to play at that level.
“From my experience watching Liverpool from the outside and speaking to some of the players who have been involved, there are not too many better places than being at Anfield on a Champions League night.”
Liverpool take on Arsenal at Anfield in Saturday’s early kick-off, and trail the league leaders by eight points going into the game.
