I'm so sorry! Luis Suarez back in Liverpool fold after his apology

LUIS Suarez has finally apologised to Liverpool.

Luis Suarez trained with the Liverpool squad, despite being banned from their season opener

As a result, he was allowed to train with the first team yesterday after previously being banished to the reserves when he went public about his desire to leave the club.

The striker rejoined the rest of the squad ahead of today's Premier League opener at home to Stoke.

That is one of six games Suarez will miss as part of his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea ace Branislav Ivanovic.

The 26-year-old made it clear throughout the summer that he wanted to leave Liverpool, but, with the club rejecting two bids from Arsenal, he has now performed a U-turn.

The £50m-rated Uruguay marksman started back-pedalling earlier this week while on international duty in Japan, claiming he now wanted to remain at Anfield.

And he was laughing and joking with his Liverpool team-mates while training at Melwood yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Reds will reignite their bid to sign Schalke centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos before the transfer window closes on September 2. Boss Brendan Rodgers is a huge fan of the Greek star, although the Reds have been reluctant to pay the £13m Schalke wanted.

Brendan Rodgers is keen to snap up Greek star Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Sources close to Papadopoulos, 21, claim he is keen to leave the Bundesliga for Anfield, while Schalke have indicated they are now willing to thrash out a deal. Rodgers has already snapped up veteran Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City to replace retired Jamie Carragher.

And Liverpool yesterday agreed in principle to sign Valencia's Aly Cissokho on loan for the season, with a view to a permanent deal.

But Rodgers says he is keen to further strengthen the Liverpool backline before the window shuts, with Papadopoulos top of his list.

"It would be nice to get in another defender, but it has to be the right one," Rodgers said. "We've worked hard to try to get one or two players in. It hasn't quite materialised.

“Do we need to strengthen defensively? Only if the right player is available”

Brendan Rodgers

"But we are confident, in the next couple of weeks, we can add to the team. If we do, we're going to be in a good position.

"Do we need to strengthen defensively? Only if the right player is available. That player hasn't been yet."

Liverpool are set to start with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel in central defence for the Premier League lunchtime opener against Stoke after they shook off knee injuries.

A year into the job, Rodgers also accepts fans expect the club to challenge for a top-four finish. "The measure will always be the Champions League and the big European competitions," he added.

"There will be calls for us to improve every year but that's not new, not unexpected. It's what you expect at a big club. We want to make improvements and believe we will."