Liverpool's 'gladiator' Luis Suarez can make history with one more goal

Brendan Rodgers has hailed Luis Suarez as his "gladiator" with the striker standing on the verge of breaking a Liverpool record.

If Suarez scores against Sunderland tonight he will overtake Robbie Fowler’s Premier League club best of 28 goals in a season.

Should the Uruguayan hit two then he will become the first Liverpool player to score 30 League goals in a season since Ian Rush 27 years ago.

Suarez’s goals have allowed Liverpool to make their first title challenge in five years and he is the front runner for the Player of the Year honour.

“Luis is a remarkable talent,” said Liverpool manager Rodgers. “His sheer will and determination to want to score supersedes that talent really.

“He is certainly on his way to that [Player of the Year]. We have a number of candidates here — players who have been at the top level for a lot of the season.

“But Luis probably more than anyone has been really consistent so he has to be in the reckoning.

“He’s very quiet, timid even, off the field. His character and his nature is that of someone who is very focused on his job. But when he crosses the white line he becomes this gladiator on the field.”