Despite scoring 14 goals between them in Liverpool’s storming start to the Premier League season, the Manchester United defender feels that it is too early to praise them so much

Liverpool pair Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have lots of work to do to become a special strike partnership, according to Rio Ferdinand.

The duo have made a stunning start to the 2013-14 season, scoring a combined total of 14 goals as the Reds have surged to third in the Premier League table.

Of the five games that they have played together, the Suarez and Sturridge partnership – christened the ‘SAS’ by Liverpool fans – have scored 10 times, leading to several pundits describing them as the best strikeforce in the country but the Manchester United defender feels that they must prove themselves over the course of a whole season at least.

Although impressed by their form, the 34-year-old believes that the jury is still out, telling BT Sport: “In this country and in football in general I think we build people up too quickly.

“That’s not to say they’re not a great partnership – they’re proven at the moment. They’re on top of their game and they’re playing very, very well. They’ve scored some great goals.

“But I think you judge partnerships over a period of time. Look at [Dwight] Yorke and [Andy] Cole, [Teddy] Sheringham and [Alan] Shearer.

“These types of partnerships aren’t developed overnight over a course of part of a season, it’s over a period of time. So I think it’s better to give these people time.”

The Suarez and Sturridge partnership will next be tested by Arsenal, with Liverpool travelling to the table-toppers on Saturday.