The striker missed two second-half opportunities to lead Liverpool to victory over Everton, while the captain highlighted Jon Flanagan as the standout performer at Goodison Park
Steven Gerrard has warned Hull City that Luis Suarez is “desperate” to make amends for missing the chance to lead Liverpool to victory over Everton.
The striker scored a free kick in the 3-3 derby draw, but missed two chances in the second half that would have ensured his side kept within touching distance of leaders Arsenal.
And Gerrard is sure Suarez will look to right those wrongs at the KC Stadium on Sunday with Liverpool looking to return to winning ways.
“Luis is a machine. He’s right up there with the best in the world,” Gerrard told reporters. “Luis is the type of player who won’t be thinking about his free kick after the game, he’ll be thinking about the header he missed.
“That’s why he’s so good. He’ll be desperate to get back out and make amends for that.
“That’s what the best players do, they don’t get big-headed over the good things they do but analyse the mistakes and where it went wrong and how they can improve.”
Gerrard, meanwhile, picked out Jon Flanagan for praise, after the 20-year-old was afforded his first ever start in the derby – with the captain likening the defender to the recently retired Jamie Carragher.
“Our star man for me was Jon Flanagan by a country mile,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “He doesn’t get many headlines but as captain of the team he was the player I am most proud of. I thought he was unbelievable.
“He’s been fighting hard in training just to get in the 18, never mind the starting 11, but the manager threw him in at the deep end against a top class player like Mirallas and I thought he was sensational.
“It was one of the best derby performances I have seen for many years. He reminds me of Carragher in a lot of ways.
“He was on the front foot, he was aggressive. He did exactly what the manager told him to do before kick off. He was brilliant.
“All of the players gave him a round of applause when he came in the dressing room afterwards. He was sensational.”