After the Uruguayan got back to scoring ways against Southampton, the Reds midfielder declared his belief that his team-mate is firmly among the best players in the world

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes that Luis Suarez is up there with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.

The Uruguayan scored his 25th goal and registered his 11th assist of the season against Southampton on Saturday, playing a key role in the Reds’ 3-0 win, and the midfielder was left awestruck by his performance.

“I’ve run out of words to describe him,” Gerrard told reporters. “We’re blessed in this country to have some really top forwards but for me, without being biased, he’s the best.

“I’ve said it many times, I look at Messi and Ronaldo and, yeah, they’re world-class players but, outside of that, you have [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez, who are pushing those two really close.

“Performances like this, where he hasn’t scored for four or five games but he’s getting assists, causing so many problems. He’s relentless. He’s a winner, he’s a killer and we’re lucky to have him.”

The skipper added to the Liverpool Echo: “Luis showed once again that he’s an absolute genius. People had been talking about him going five games without a goal but his contribution to the team has never wavered.

“He is very unselfish. At times he’s been asked to play in a wider role and he has shown what a great team player he is. Even when he wasn’t scoring, he was still terrorising defenders and creating goals for us.

“It was a great way for him to celebrate 100 league games for the club. His record is phenomenal.”

The win at St Mary’s Stadium moved Brendan Rodgers’s side up to second in the Premier League and Gerrard believes that their underdog status could well see them win the title.

“I think it’s very nice people are talking about us and we’re in the title race. There’s no getting away from that, we’re in it,” he declared to the press.

“But it’s important we stay calm, keep taking it game by game and try to win as many games as we can.

“Manchester City and Chelsea are still the favourites because they have that experience of going to win it but I think both know, listening to Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini, that we’re a big threat because we’ve got no Europe and we can be fresh every game.

“Yes, it does suit us at the moment being underdogs. What suits us as well is we’ve a lot of time to prepare.”

Five players make it into our side for the first time this season, while the Liverpool forward and Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke get back among the goals after their droughts

Chelsea continue to lead the way in the Premier League, while Liverpool kept stride with the title contenders, but it was a sorry weekend for Arsenal who crumbled at Stoke City.

Five debutants make it into our Premier League Team of the Week, while Luis Suarez makes it into our side for the ninth time this season.

Simon Mignolet (3.5) wins a place in our Team of the Week for the third time following his clean sheet against Southampton.

At right-back, Leandro Bacuna (4) got himself on the scoresheet in Aston Villa’s 4-1 win over Norwich City and posed a key threat to Chris Hughton’s defence throughout.

Two debutants form our central-defensive partnership as Michael Dawson’s (3.5) solid display in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Cardiff City is twinned with Ryan Shawcross’ (3.5) resolute performance in keeping Arsenal’s attack at bay at the Britannia Stadium.

At left-back, Leighton Baines (3.5) makes his third appearance in our Team of the Week as he put in another excellent display in Everton’s 1-0 victory over West Ham.

In midfield, a second Stoke player makes our side this week as Steven N’Zonzi’s (4) man-of-the-match performance helped Mark Hughes’ men edge past Arsenal. Jon Birchall commented from the Britannia Stadium: “Impressive from the former Blackburn man, who looked to drive through the Arsenal midfield at will. Was comfortable with the ball at his feet and central to the home side’s attacks on the counter.”

Our second spot goes to Team of the Week debutant James McCarthy (3.5) for his industrious display for Roberto Martinez’s side at Goodison Park.

Moussa Sissoko’s (4) double inspired Newcastle United to a 4-1 win over Hull City and the Frenchman is awarded the final place in our midfield for his efforts.

Just behind our front two is Andre Schurrle (4). The Germany international was clinical in front of goal for Chelsea as his hat-trick handed Jose Mourinho’s men the victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

“Schurrle’s in a learning process in the Premier League but he has cold blood, in front of goal he is cool,” Mourinho said.

“He’s a good finisher and that’s what I expect from him.”

In attack this week, Luis Suarez (4) ended his run of four Premier League games without a goal by scoring the opener in Liverpool’s 3-0 win away to Southampton.

And partnering the Uruguay international is Christian Benteke (4), who also went four matches without a goal before scoring twice in Villa’s victory over Norwich City on Sunday.

The Southampton boss believes the Anfield outfit have what it takes to become Premier League champions after beating his side 3-0 at St Mary’s

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino believes Liverpool have what it takes to win the Premier League this season.

The Reds claimed a 3-0 victory at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday to move up to second in the table, four points behind leaders Chelsea.

Brendan Rodgers’ men are now unbeaten in nine top-flight matches, winning the last four, and the Anfield outfit are also the league’s top scorers with 73 goals.

And, having seen goals from Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard down his side, Pochettino is in no doubt that Liverpool can claim a maiden Premier League title. 

“Yes I think they’re a definite candidate to win the league,” he said. “They have the right players to mount a very good challenge to win the league.”

Suarez took his Premier League goal tally for the season to 24 with the opener on Saturday, ending a five-match scoreless run, and Pochettino rates him among the world’s leading players.

“He’s one of the best in the world, that’s clear,” he said. “He has definitely been showing that throughout this entire season.

“He’s been showing that skill, that quality that makes him one the best in the world that’s for sure.”