Liverpool Legend Claims Suarez is Getting Closer to Ronaldo and Messi

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is getting closer to Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

The England international praised the Uruguayan's performances during the Reds' 5-1 win over Norwich City at home as Liverpool maintained their chances to compete for the league title.

The 26-year-old put in an impeccable shift against the Canaries as he scored four goals and set up one for Raheem Sterling. Gerrard has urged that the former Ajax player to emulate Ronaldo and Messi to become the best player in the world.

"You have seen a world-class performance, probably one of the best individual performances I've seen at Anfield - and I've been playing here a long time," Gerrard told Liverpool's official website.

"I think he's getting so close to the main two, Ronaldo and Messi. If he keeps going, I think he can catch them. His fourth goal was average and it was a 30-yard free-kick, so I think that sums his performance up," the skipper added.

Suarez's display was sensational and proved why Arsenal were after his signature in the summer. He began the night by scoring a 40-yard volley; then finish swiftly from a corner before cleverly dribbling past Norwich players and scoring past John Ruddy from just inside the 18-yard box to complete a first-half hat-trick.

In the second-half, he added a fourth from a free-kick and set up Sterling late in the game for the host's fifth goal, as they comfortably grabbed all three points against Chris Hughton's side.

Suarez has scored 13 goals in nine league appearances for Liverpool. Despite missing the first five games of the season, the 26-year-old is the Premier League's top scorer, having two more than Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

Liverpool were on top of the table earlier in the season. But setbacks against teams like Southampton and Hull City ensured the Reds fall behind by seven points to leaders Arsenal after 14 games in the fourth spot.

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has drawn comparisons between Suarez and Kenny Dalglish and the former Swansea manager has challenged the South American striker to emulate the feats achieved by the Anfield legend for the Merseyside club.