Ian Rush has praised Luis Suarez's ability to combine dazzling skill, ruthless efficiency and an unyielding determination to press for possession.

Rush is Liverpool's all-time greatest goalscorer, having netted an astonishing 346 times in 660 appearances, but there was more to his game than sheer goals.

The Welshman provided a crucial first line of defence for Liverpool's all-conquering sides of the 1980s, pressurising the opposition from the front.

He knew how to harry defenders, when to press the ball and he was more than happy to dig deep for his side - a trait he believes Suarez currently embodies.

"Luis is my player of the year for the entire year," he told the Liverpool Echo. "He is a joy to watch and his work-rate is incredible, which has affected Daniel Sturridge's game as well.

"He is putting a real shift in, and not just when Liverpool have the ball. Since Brendan Rodgers brought him back into the side he has been enjoying his football.

"Luis has signed a new contract and you can tell by the way he plays he loves playing for Liverpool. The supporters love watching him and hopefully he will be there for a long time to come."

Rush won five first division titles, two European Cups and three FA Cups during his Anfield career, at a time when the Reds were consistently one of the best teams in Europe.

He watched, first as a Liverpool player and then from afar, as their rivals Manchester United, slowly began to exert their dominance over English football and claw their way back towards the Reds' record total of 18 league titles.

United surpassed that tally in 2011 and last year clinched their 20th; however, Rush believes Rodgers' current side are closing the gap on the Red Devils this season, along with a host of other sides near the top of the table.

"Manchester United set the standard but obviously Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are catching them now," said Rush.

"It was the same in the 1980s for Liverpool. People looked up to us to try to reach those standards and Manchester United got there."

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