Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has admitted that Luis Suarez has tarnished the club's image.

The Uruguayan has been involved in a number of controversies since arriving at Anfield, including being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra, accusations of diving and biting the arm of Branislav Ivanovic.

"Any types of incident of that nature are damaging to the brand," said Ayre.

But he also said that Suarez is "working on his character" and that he has responded well since the incident with Ivanovic.

"We have worked a lot with Luis since the last incident with Ivanovic and he has responded well to that."

Suarez made his first appearance of the season for Liverpool last night in the 1 - 0 League Cup defeat to Manchester United.

However he has played for Uruguay since the biting incident, courting controversy in the 2 - 1 win over Peru, when an opposition player was sent off after reacting to Suarez' alleged play-acting.