Brendan Rodgers is prepared to move Luis Suárez "for the common good of the team" to accommodate Daniel Sturridge in the new signing's preferred role as a central striker at Liverpool.

The Uruguay international has excelled in a central position this season, and has done so under the responsibility of leading the Liverpool attack almost single-handedly, with his brace against Sunderland on Wednesday taking his total for the campaign to 18. He is the second highest goalscorer in the Premier League at present with 15, one behind Robin van Persie.

Despite a vast improvement in Suárez's goal tally this season Rodgers admits the 25-year-old's role is likely to change following the long-awaited arrival of striking support in Sturridge. The Liverpool manager believes the England international is best suited to a central role – though Sturridge has denied making that a condition of his move to Anfield – and that Suárez's ability allows him to remain as potent across the front line.

Asked where Suárez will play following the £12m signing of Sturridge from Chelsea, Rodgers said: "For the common good of the team." He then denied a suggestion that the 23-year-old's arrival could impact on the Uruguayan's game. Rodgers added: "That is not the case at all. It is not a problem having top players. Don't talk about problems with players. We need good players.

"I spoke with Luis at length on it a number of times. This has been in the plan for a few months. When he played at Ajax he played in behind as a No10, in between the lines, and he played as a reverse winger from the left side so he wasn't quite out wide – he was tucked in round the corner. Wherever he plays he will make the same movements and he will find the space because he is a world class player."

Sturridge, despite his problems at Chelsea, enjoys a better chance conversion rate than Suárez over the duration of their respective Premier League careers. And the Liverpool manager has indicated he will give the 23-year-old the opportunities in attack that he was denied at Stamford Bridge.

"Daniel's best position is as a central striker," he said. "I have said that 4-3-3 will become richer because of the type of players. There is not one way to play 4-3-3. You can have one up and two wingers, a floating nine like Luis Suárez, you can have one like Daniel Sturridge central, two in and around him narrow with full backs bombing on. The principles of your game are based on your players. I think for Daniel his best position will be straight through the middle with his pace."

Sturridge's new captain for club as well as country, Steven Gerrard, admits the striker needs consistency to unlock his potential at Liverpool, the third major club of the player's short career. Gerrard said: "Daniel has the quality. I know he's got it – I've seen it. He suffered a bit at Manchester City and moved on to Chelsea where he hasn't played as much as he wanted but has shown flashes of brilliance.

"I think he's at the age now when he needs to settle down, get a settled club and show consistently what qualities he's got. If he can start producing that for us on a weekly basis he can help this club move forward to where we want to be. He has said he wants to play football for a big club, the stage is set for him. There will be no excuses for him. He will be playing with good players at a great club. It's all there for him. He just has to go and grasp it with both hands. He's at an age now where he should be performing week in week out."

Liverpool still hope to re-sign Tom Ince in this transfer window despite failing to agree a fee with Blackpool for their former player, and are willing to hand Joe Cole a £3m pay-off to join West Ham United on a permanent contract. The former England midfielder is on a basic £92,000 a week at Anfield and would earn over £7m from the remaining 18 months of his Liverpool deal. Cole underwent a medical at West Ham on Thursday and could sign in time to face Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.