Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as the most dangerous partnership in the Premier League after their performance against Sunderland on Sunday.
Suarez announced his return from his 10-match ban by scoring two goals after Sturridge scored the opener at the Stadium of Light, Sturridge also had two assists.
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Sunderland has elevated them to second position in the league and has sent Sunderland to the bottom with one point in 6 games.
Rodgers said: “I am not sure there are two better in the league, in all honesty.
“There are some wonderful partnerships around – you have got [Robin] Van Persie and [Wayne] Rooney up there, who are outstanding.
“We have changed the structure of our team a wee bit to allow us to pass it better – we have still got an awful of work to do – and also to fit in with the types of players we have.
“Those two are right up there with the best in the country and you saw that today.
“The [second] goal, Steven Gerrard makes an absolutely breathtaking pass out of pressure and Daniel’s touch, pace and power takes him in, and he has shown that quality just to roll the ball in for Luis to get his finish.
“Those two will only get better. You can see their understanding – we have done a lot of work with them together in training and they looked very, very bright today.
“They are two different types as well, which makes it hard for defenders because one has pace, one has power and two good feet, and the other is a wriggler and can shift his body very quickly and ends up in the box.
“The dynamics of them are very good.”
Sturridge scored a ‘lucky’ goal on the 28th minute when he attempted to head home Gerard’s corner, but ended up sending the ball over the line with his arm, although not in the view of referee Howard Webb.
Rodgers said with a smile: “He needs to work on his heading, I think. He has actually been working on his heading, believe it or not, Daniel Sturridge.
“He meant to head it and it missed his head and hit his arm and went in, and if you watch it again, if you look at the reaction of the Sunderland players, there’s not one reacted to it being handball.”
Suarez took over after that tapping home a wonderful pass from Sturridge before half-time and then EmanueleGiaccherini pulled one back for Sunderland seven minutes into the second half, finishing off a well-orchestrated counter attack.
Rodgers praised the Uruguay international’s mental strength on his return from his extended lay-off.
He said: “He is not fazed by much. He has a remarkable mentality. His determination, the steel in his mindset, is phenomenal.
“He is just so focused and for us, he is like a new signing, really, coming back into the team.
“It’s great for the team and it’s great for the supporters. Our supporters deserve to see someone of that quality, but his talent deserves to be out on the field rather than sitting in the stand, and that’s something that we are working very hard in order to make sure that happens this season.”