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Enrique likens Suarez to Messi

Luis Suarez has been Liverpool's star player this season © Getty Images

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Jose Enrique believes his Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez shows similarities to Lionel Messi in his ability to go past defenders.

Enrique, 27, said he struggles to find ways to stop the Uruguay international, who is in a rich vein of form, in training.

Suarez, who has scored six goals in his last three matches, is the Premier League's leading scorer with 21 and has a total of 28 in all competitions this season.

But left-back Enrique says there is far more to the 26-year-old's game than goals, explaining that his ability to dart past opponents is similar to that of Barcelona's Messi.

"I tell Luis all the time that he always does the same thing - he tries to do nutmegs," Enrique told Liverpool's official website. "And you just know that he is going to do it, but you can't stop him.

"When you know someone, you can know what they are going to do - but he's still a very difficult player to train against.

"He scores so many goals in training. It's like with Messi - everyone says he is going to cut inside all the time. And you know that he is going to do this but you can't stop him from cutting inside and scoring goals. With Luis, it's the same."

Enrique said that "of course there are some differences between the two players", adding: "Luis is a great all-round striker, but it's not just about the goals, it's about what he gives to the team - it's about his personality and his attitude.

"He's the same in training as what you see in games. He gives 100% all the time."

Suarez is expected to battle it out with Manchester United striker Robin van Persie and Tottenham winger Gareth Bale for this season's PFA Player of the Year award, and Enrique hopes his team-mate can lift the trophy.

"Van Persie and Bale are on fire," he said. "Van Persie has been a very important player for Manchester United this season and Bale is doing very well.

"But Luis is my friend, so I would like him to win the Player of the Year award. It will be difficult for him. But, of course, I think he deserves it."

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