Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has claimed that Philippe Coutinho has the ability to be considered amongst the world's best players.
The Brazilian scored two goals and was involved in another during a man-of-the-match display against Arsenal on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season as the Reds ran out 4-3 winners at the Emirates Stadium.
Henderson heaped praise on the 24-year-old following his virtuoso display, and believes that he is not far from being considered alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.
"Messi, Ronaldo and Suarez - they are seen as the elite players in world football. Philippe has certainly got the talent, the work ethic and the hunger to get into that bracket," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"He's a fantastic player for us. I've seen him develop as a player during his time at Liverpool and he's still only 24. If he continues to work as hard as he does and continues to develop like he has done then I'm sure he will be in that bracket before long. He's still very young.
"Hopefully it won't be long before people do regard him alongside the Messis of this world. We have to try to keep him fit and keep him playing like that because he was brilliant against Arsenal."
Liverpool's next match sees them take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Barney Corkhill
