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Simon Mignolet has paid tribute to the heroics of Liverpool FC's 30-goal hitman Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan striker became the first Reds player to reach the landmark since Ian Rush 27 years ago when he netted in Sunday's thrilling 3-2 win over Norwich City.

Suarez's achievement is all the more remarkable considering that he sat out the first five league matches of the season due to suspension and he hasn't taken a single penalty.

He has fired Liverpool to the brink of winning the title and is only one goal adrift of the Premier League scoring record of 31 jointly held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Shearer over a 38-game campaign.

“To score 30 league goals in a season is amazing,” Mignolet told the ECHO.

“Everybody knows what Luis can do and the goals he contributes to the team are very important for us.

“He doesn’t surprise me any more. I see him every day in training.

“It’s not an accident, it’s not luck, the reason he has scored so many goals is down to his ability. He is so good and we’re very pleased to have him.”

Suarez is expected to hold off competition from Liverpool team-mates Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge to be crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year this Sunday evening.

Sturridge and Raheem Sterling are also among the contenders for the Young Player prize.

A private plane is booked to fly the quartet and boss Brendan Rodgers to the ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel following the Reds' crunch clash with title rivals Chelsea at Anfield.

Mignolet insists whoever walks away with the individual accolades, it's been a team ethic which has driven this Liverpool side to the Premier League summit on the back of 11 successive league wins.

“Luis has a good chance but there are a few contenders for that award in our team,” he said.

“There are other players here who are also very important for the team.

“It's more about the squad than any individual. You saw the togetherness in the scenes after the win over Manchester City and again at Norwich.

“We've cleared different hurdles together as a team. Every game is mentally and physically tough but we get through it and it makes you stronger.”

The Reds' win at Carrow Road ensured they capitalised on Chelsea's shock home defeat to Sunderland 24 hours earlier.

Rodgers' men are five points clear of the Londoners, while third placed Manchester City are six points behind with a game in hand.

Mignolet insists the mood in the squad remains calm and relaxed – despite Liverpool being so close to ending the club's 24-year title drought.

“There are no signs of nerves,” he added. “There is no point making ourselves nervous before a match.

“We take each game as it comes and just focus on the objective. All we can do is our best.

“It’s not about imagining winning the title, it’s about doing it on the pitch. No-one is thinking about what might happen on May 11, we're just preparing ourselves for Chelsea.

“We know it’s up to us. We need to look at ourselves, it's not about looking at the opposition.

“Three points was all that mattered at Norwich. Before the game the manager told us that Chelsea's defeat was a warning sign - that it showed what can happen in the Premier League against any team.

“We've seen with the points Chelsea and City have dropped recently that every single game in this league is tough.

“Norwich are fighting relegation and made it difficult for us but we managed to get through it. We did the job and now we move on and look forward to another big game at home against Chelsea.

“We are an attacking team and to have scored 96 goals in the league already is a brilliant amount. Hopefully we can keep that going over the final three matches and finish the season strongly.”

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Sell-out Anfield crowd celebrate the 96 as club legends play out entertaining draw (Video/Gallery)