Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Champions League football is Luis Suarez's reward for staying with the club.
The Uruguayan striker was pining for a move away from Anfield last summer, before eventually staying to sign a new contract in December.
Suarez, who won the PFA Player of the Year award on Sunday, will be playing in Europe's premier competition next season, after the Reds officially qualified for the tournament by beating Norwich City 3-2 on Easter Sunday.
Rodgers is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail: "I've watched Champions League football all my coaching life and I've been to matches this season, both here and in Europe, and I've thought that a player of Luis Suarez's ability has to be playing at this level.
"His loyalty in staying at Liverpool, to continue to fight for the club to get us there, is remarkable really. Hopefully he gets the rewards for that with those big European nights next season.
"I think it's a remarkable turnaround for a player who has been vilified – and some may see he brought it on himself – but it's great to see someone change and to be stood up there getting this award."
Suarez has scored 30 goals this season.
Paul Gorst
