Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers never tires of watching Luis Suarez weave his magic – or waxing lyrical about a striker who is staking a strong claim to win the prestigious PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award.
Suarez already has two player of the month awards to his credit and, having put Norwich to the sword four-fold in the week, the Uruguayan registered goal number 14 for the season in the weekend 4-1 win against West Ham.
It’s a good job that Rodgers is an eloquent chap, as many would struggle to find further superlatives to describe a player rated the best in the league on current form. “Most teams in the world would want Luis Suarez,” said Rodgers after the latest masterclass.
“I don't think you can put a price on him and I wouldn't want to. I think (Sergio) Aguero is a wonderful player as well but I wouldn't swap Suarez for anyone.
"His will and desire oversteps the mark the odd time, which has got him in trouble, but if you are talking about tactical and technical ability he is up there with the world's best."
Johan Cabaye was Newcastle’s match winner against Manchester United – the Magpies’ first league win at Old Trafford since 1972 – and his performances for the Toon will put him in the frame for fans’ player of the month.
Crystal Palace striker Cameron Jerome is also emerging as a contender as he leads the Eagles’ revival under his former Stoke manager Tony Pulis who praised his side's ‘unbelievable’ work-rate in the 2-0 win against Cardiff - highlighting the efforts of goalscorers Jerome and Marouane Chamakh.
Pulis said: “I'm very pleased for Chamakh, who has really worked hard since I came in the door. He and Cameron Jerome looked a handful. For all of West Ham's possession, I think we most probably created the more clear-cut chances."
Another London-based striker on fire at the weekend was Fulham’s Dimitar Berbatov, a footballing enigma if ever there was one. Frustrating and fabulous in equal proportions, the Bulgarian displayed more of the latter in a welcome victory for the Cottagers against Aston Villa.
Fulham are trying to rebuild under Rene Meulensteen following the departure of Martin Jol, and Berbatov is key to the new boss’s plans. "I had a good chat with him, he's not a stranger to me," said Meulensteen. "We know what games we have coming up all the way to January, and he's fully committed to Fulham."
Berbatov set up Steve Sidwell for the opener with an audacious through ball before slotting in a penalty as cool as you like after a foul on Alexander Kacaniklic. "He makes a difference," said Meulensteen. "I thought he was excellent on Wednesday as well, and against Villa again you saw what he was capable of doing,"
Source: DSG
