Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has said that his teammate Luis Suarez is now the best player in the Premier League.

The Uruguay international took his goal tally to 19 in 12 games with his brace in the 3-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday.

Suarez signed a new long-term deal on Friday and Lucas believes that it sends a message to the rest of the league.

"What he is doing this season and what he has done in the past few seasons he deserved that," Lucas told reporters. "We can see he is really comfortably playing here.

"It (the contract) is a positive message because the owners and manager said they want to keep their best players and at the moment he is not only our best player but the best player in the league.

"Hopefully he will maintain this form for a long time for the club."

Suarez moved to Liverpool from Ajax in 2011.