Sunderland Beaten By 'The New Messi'?

Last updated : 03 January 2013 By Tott Dixon - Seaham

Brendan Rodgers: "When you work with players like Luis Suarez, he is a Messi-type character in terms of he is angry when I give him a breather.

"At the start of the season I tried to rest him and he didn't want it.

"He is a player that to be at his top of his game has to play two or three times a week, one game is not enough.

"He needs to be playing and you see the response you get from him.

"His work has never dropped, he is a real team player, he trains every single day, is never in the treatment room and then he goes out and performs.

"As the ball moves he gets the chance to move into spaces - if he plays in a style which is direct he doesn't get a chance to move.

"In a structure where the team is moving and the ball is moving his cleverness and intelligence finds the space and you can see he is thriving in the team at the moment.

"It will be fantastic to see him develop because I think there is a long way to go in his development."

"Daniel Sturridge failed to cut it as a youngster at Manchester City and never securing a regular first-team place at Chelsea, and at 23 this this is his last chance to make it at a big club.

"We are bringing in a player who knows he has to perform if he wants to be at one of the biggest clubs in the world and this is probably his last chance.

"I have every faith that over his time here he will prove a real hit and it gives us another attacking threat at the top end of the field."