‘Suarez as good as Messi and Ronaldo’

LIVERPOOL. — Brendan Rodgers says Luis Suarez is worthy of comparison with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after his incredible four-goal feat at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The Uruguayan became the first player in Premier League history to score three hat-tricks against the same team, inspiring his side to a 5-1 victory against Norwich City.

There are some evenings at Anfield when a footballer is granted a standing ovation, and others when only gasps of approval are sufficient.
Suárez’s performance for Liverpool on Wednesday night ought to have seen him carried off the pitch in a Sedan chair. That was just at half-time.

The Uruguayan scored four in the 5-1 win against Norwich City with a display that, even by his own imperious recent standards, underlined his status as a peer of the world greats.

No Liverpool player had recorded three hat-tricks against the same team, likewise no one in the Premier League, but Norwich found themselves on the wrong side of that landmark. This quadruple also took Suárez’s personal tally to 13 in his last eight games since his return from suspension. Mere statistics underplay the quality of the strikes, however, at least two of which were goal-of-the-season contenders. The other two, including a trademark 25-yard free-kick, seemed merely routine in their magnificence.

“He deserves mention with Messi and Ronaldo,” Rodgers said. “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 has confirmed he will not leave Liverpool in the winter transfer window — and says the Premier League is the best league in the world.

But he still refuses to commit his future to the Anfield club beyond the summer.
But after his four-goal demolition of Norwich he told Marca: ‘When I’m happy off the pitch; it shows with my form on the pitch. I am happy in the Premier League; it’s the best league there is.’

When asked if he would stay until the end of the season ruling out any attempts to leave in the new year he said: ‘Yes, I am happy here and I will stay.’ — Telegraph/Mailonline.