Steven Gerrard claims Luis Suarez's performance against Norwich City has strengthened his claims to a standing among the world's best.
Liverpool's Uruguayan frontman was virtually unplayable on Wednesday as he illuminated a midweek outing at Anfield.
Suarez plundered four goals against the hapless Canaries - making history as the first man to net three hat-tricks against the same Premier League opposition.
Gerrard - who has played alongside some great players over the course of a distinguished career - believes Suarez is now proving that he deserves a billing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the finest performers on the planet.
He told Liverpool's official website: "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.
"Having worked with him every single day, it's probably less of a surprise to me as it is to the supporters. I've been pushing his corner for a long time that he is up there with the best in the world.
"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."
While Suarez stole the headlines against Norwich, an emphatic victory saw Liverpool as a collective offer the perfect response to Sunday's shock 3-1 reversal at Hull City.
Skipper Gerrard added: "That's what the manager asked for - a big reaction. It was a bad few days after Hull, everyone was down and we weren't proud of the performance.
"We let ourselves down. There have been a couple of occasions this season that we have done it and come unstuck - one was Southampton at home and one was Hull away.
"Hopefully there are not too many more. At home against the teams lower down the league we have been ruthless and that's what we showed tonight. We were ruthless from the first minute.
"It was all about the reaction tonight and the three points. We're really pleased but we've got to match that again against West Ham or tonight is pointless. We have been really good at home, for the majority of games we have been superb.
"There was only Southampton where we haven't turned up. If we keep performing to that level, we can make Anfield a fortress - if you want to be successful in this league, you've got to make your home ground a fortress."
Brendan Rodgers hailed Luis Suarez after the striker netted four goals and created an assist in a 5-1 rout of Norwich at Anfield, believing it shows how happy he is at the club.
Suarez became the first Premier League player to score three hat-tricks against the same team in a breath-taking display to delight the Kop.
After notching spectacular goals in the 15th, 29th, 35th and 74th minutes, Suarez then turned provider for Raheem Sterling to score late on.
After being subject to a failed bid from Arsenal in the summer, Suarez is now the top scorer in the Premier League this season with 13 goals in nine appearances, and Rodgers believes it shows how happy he is with his present club.
Asked if it was one of the best striking performances he had seen from one player in a game, Rodgers told Sky Sports: "Well certainly I haven't seen better. It was a brilliant performance, just a pleasure to have watched that.
"Every goal was like a 'wow' goal, from the first right through to the end, so incredible performance by an incredible player and, as I said, it was a real pleasure.
"I really enjoyed watching my team tonight, we were full of creativity and goals and worked very hard."
He added: "You can't ask any more, he's certainly earned his money and just a pleasure to work with.
"I think you see his happiness, he's really happy in his football and the whole club just is a hand-in-glove fit for him."
