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Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner believes securing Luis Suarez 's long-term future underlines the owners' commitment to bring the glory days back to Anfield.

The prolific Uruguay striker has become the highest paid player in the club's history after signing a contract that keeps him with the Reds until the summer of 2018.

Suarez's salary will almost double to around £200,000 per week – putting him on a par with the Premier League's top earners.

The 26-year-old has plundered 17 goals in just 11 league games this season since returning from his 10-game suspension.

Werner admits the timing of the new deal is perfect as Brendan Rodgers' in-form side prepare to kick-off their crucial festive schedule at home to Cardiff City on Saturday.

“We are delighted that Luis wanted to extend his contract,” Werner told the ECHO.

“He’s very happy to be at Liverpool and we are very happy that he will continue to represent the club for years to come.

“We are working very hard to keep our best players here. This demonstrates our commitment to build a team that competes at the highest level both in the Premier League and in Europe.

“We prefer to do our work privately. We had been speaking with Luis and his agent for a while. We are all glad it’s been resolved. Luis is happy with the contract and we’re happy with it too.

“We’re going into an important stretch for the club. The Christmas period is key and Luis signing the contract is a great boost for everyone.

“Luis is a world class talent. Whenever he’s on the pitch we have a chance to win.”

Werner paid tribute to Rodgers for the role he has played in the remarkable rejuvenation of Suarez's Reds career.

Last summer the former Ajax frontman appeared to be heading for the exit door when he demanded a transfer. He wrongly believed there was a release clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if a club offered in excess of £40m.

After accusing Rodgers of breaking a promise to let him move to a Champions League club he was banished to train on his own at Melwood.

However, Liverpool's owners and the manager stood firm. Arsenal's offer of £40million plus £1 was rejected and the Reds' hardline stance has paid off handsomely.

Since returning to action Suarez has produced the best football of his career and has been rewarded with the captaincy in the absence of injured skipper Steven Gerrard.

“It was a challenging summer for everyone,” Werner admitted.

“But throughout that period we were always confident because the lines of communication between Brendan and Luis were always open.

“I have to say Brendan did a great job encouraging Luis to remain with the club.

“Luis also felt he received an enormous amount of support from the fans and that was very important in his decision to stay.

“Now Luis sees the potential of Liverpool Football Club. He can see that we are competitive and that we are moving in the right direction. Luis signing the new contract is a significant step forward.”

Suarez putting pen to paper follows hot on the heels of the most complete performance of Rodgers' reign in last weekend's 5-0 hammering of Tottenham.

Victory over Cardiff today would take the Reds top and Werner has been buoyed by the rate of progress.

“John Henry and I don’t get too up after a victory or too down after a loss, but clearly we are far on from where we were at this time last year,” he said.

“You only have to look at the number of goals we have scored, not only compared to last season but also compared to the other top teams this season.

“It's not only Luis who has performed very well over the last month.

“What struck me about the game at Tottenham was that everyone contributed. Coutinho, Henderson, Flanagan, Sakho, Skrtel, Allen – it was a real team performance.

“We kept the intensity going throughout. We didn’t retreat into a defensive shell.

“The defence looks good – Simon Mignolet has been outstanding for us since he signed for the club.

“If we can keep that level of intensity in our performance it would be joyous.

“It comes back to the fact that Brendan is doing a number of things so well. He has great communication skills. He's very articulate in his strategy and the players have responded to him.”

With positive results come increased expectation levels. Werner and John Henry celebrated winning a third World Series with the Boston Red Sox back in October.

The Fenway Sports Group duo would dearly love to replicate that kind of glory on this side of the Atlantic.

However, Werner insists it's too early to even contemplate challenging for the Premier League crown this season.

“I don’t want to even go there..... it’s too much to hope,” he added.

“I don’t like making predictions. I just look at the season one chunk at a time.

“We have got a very difficult schedule ahead of us over this period and we just need to see how we fare through that.

“If the team stays healthy then we saw last weekend the kind of football the team is capable of playing. We are capable of doing well against anyone.

“The league is extremely competitive this season. Manchester City had a tough time when they played Cardiff so we certainly can’t take anything for granted at Anfield on Saturday.”

Liverpool are considering a number of transfer targets ahead of the January window to strengthen Rodgers' squad but Werner played down talk of a major spending spree.

“I don’t want to raise anyone's expectations ahead of the January window,”

“Our football operations team are looking at a number of options. But we also know that January is a difficult window for bringing in quality players. Either talent is too highly priced or not available.

“We just hope the team continues to play so well and we’ll take it one game at a time.

“Winning the World Series with the Red Sox was a wonderful time for us. We know how the success of a team can really lift the spirits of a city.

“We hope and dream of the same kind of success with Liverpool at some point in the future.”

More on Luis Suarez:

James Pearce: Always pays to expect the unexpected with Luis Suarez

They just can't get enough: seven reasons why the Kop love Suarez

Video: James Pearce discusses Luis Suarez's new Liverpool FC contract

Aldo: New deal for 'phenomenal' Suarez shows Reds are heading in right direction

In pictures: Luis Suarez signs new five-year contract with Liverpool FC