Reds boss says Suarez is as good as Barcelona’s Messi and Real Madrid’s Ronaldo.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Luis Suarez deserves comparison with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Uruguayan’s stunning four-goal destruction of Norwich.
Watch highlights of Luis Suarez’s incredible four goals against Norwich here!
Suarez became the first player to score three Premier League hat-tricks against the same team as Liverpool crushed the Canaries 5-1 at Anfield on Wednesday, with Suarez making it 13 goals in just nine league matches this term.
The 26-year-old’s goals included a 40-yard lob, a precision half-volley and a curling free-kick and Rodgers believes the striker is as good as Messi and Ronaldo – the favourites for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
“He deserves mention with Messi and Ronaldo,” Rodgers told The Guardian. “For a few years they have been out on their own, but Luis is still only 26 and still making improvements to his game.
“I’ve not seen many performances like that. It was sheer brilliance and a joy to watch. He is technically very good, but it was a remarkable individual performance. As a manager you like to talk about the team, but you have got to hold up Luis as one of the best strikers in the world. With modern day, world-class operators like Ronaldo, Bale and Messi it’s about the numbers and what they produce. Look at the goals he scores and the assists he makes.
“I don’t even know which was the best goal. I look at the first one and the dip he got on the ball from so far out was outstanding, but I then look at the third goal and think what an incredible effort that was.”
Suarez went public with his desire to leave Anfield for Champions League football in the summer but Rodgers insisted the club is a good fit for the former Ajax striker and believes Suarez’s best years are ahead of him.
“This club suits him and I think his best years will be here,” Rodgers said. “The connection and profile of Luis and Anfield is a hand in glove fit. Our type of football allows him to operate in those spaces.”
Suarez said: “It has been a good day and it was a great performance from all of my team-mates. I just want to do my best to help make the team better. My job is just to score the goals.”
Norwich manager Chris Hughton added: “Suarez is a world-class player but if you afford him that space and time he has the ability to do what he did.”
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