Day or night, you won't miss a story with the Liverpool Echo newsletter Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez will commit his long-term future to Liverpool FC as the boss warned Premier League defenders: “He can get even better.”

The Reds are keen to tie the prolific Uruguayan down to a new deal and managing director Ian Ayre held talks with his agent in Barcelona earlier this week.

Suarez, who is under contract until 2016, has plundered 17 goals in just 11 league games this term and is bound to attract interest from a host of clubs across Europe.

However, Rodgers is convinced the striker is content with life at Anfield and will continue to spearhead the club’s revival.

Asked whether he thought Suarez would pen a new deal, Rodgers said: “I’ve got every confidence that that will be the case.

“He and I talk about the present. We speak about the improvements in his game and how he can become better in the future.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt. I think he himself feels he’s progressed here as a player.

“No matter how good you are and whether you’re 26 or 32, like Steven Gerrard was when I came in here, if you want to become a better player and feel you are improving and see the club progressing, then you are happy.

“And at this moment in time I don’t think he can be any happier. I think he is at the happiest point he has been.

“He is a player we want to keep here and build the team around over the coming years. I just think he is in a good place and long may it continue.”

It’s been some transformation for Suarez since last summer when he tried and failed to force through a move to Arsenal.

Not only has he answered questions about his commitment to the cause with a string of stunning performances, he has also cleaned up his act on the pitch.

Since returning from the 10-game ban he served for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic he has picked up just one booking.

Remarkably, Suarez has scored 12 goals in the Reds' past five home games ahead of Saturday's clash with Cardiff City at Anfield.

Rodgers says his contribution in Liverpool's rise to second place in the Premier League has underlined why the club fought so hard to keep him back in August.

In contrast Tottenham agreed to sell their prized asset in Gareth Bale and despite pocketing a world record fee of £87million from Real Madrid and embarking on a huge spending spree they have struggled to fill the void.

“Obviously there have been difficulties from Bale leaving. It shows you that when you have someone with that X-factor, sometimes eight, nine or 10 players can’t replace that,” Rodgers added.

“That was why we fought like tigers to keep Luis Suarez here because he is a top player, he is a performer. There are many good players but very few who perform week in week out to that level.

“I knew we were going to have a really top class player every week. His goals to games ratio is incredible.

“I was reading a stat the other day comparing his numbers to Robbie Fowler’s. It’s remarkable what he’s done because Robbie was a top striker.

“When you look at the impact he’s made, it’s first class. He is maturing and he is one of the pillars of the group.”

Rodgers handed Suarez the captaincy in the absence of Steven Gerrard for last weekend’s 5-0 rout of Tottenham and he will retain the armband over the festive programme.

Some questioned whether a player with his disciplinary record should be given that honour but the manager insists he merits it.

“You have seen his performances and conduct,” Rodgers said.

“Whenever you choose the captain you always analyse lots of things that happen on and off the field.

“We all make mistakes and you would hate to think he would be punished for a lifetime because of that. This is a guy who has made a mistake and what he has shown is he is a learner in response to that.

“The award from the supporters (Suarez was voted player of the year by the Football Supporters’ Federation on Monday), not just those here at Liverpool but throughout the nation who picked him as a top player, in itself, is great redemption for what has happened in the past.

“He has really felt the love of the supporters because after the 10-game ban he found it difficult to cope. He is a man who plays football because of the love of the game and we see that every week.

“He is humble man and just has this unique desire to win games. He is a player every manager in the world would want in his team for his determination and quality.

“We are a young side with an average age (that is) probably the lowest for a number of years and he has taken on that mantle in order to help and support those young players while having that real X-factor to his game.

“I know him well enough and speak with him enough to know he is a great player and a good man. In Stevie’s absence, I couldn’t think of anyone better to lead the team than Luis Suarez.”