Steven Gerrard believes Barclays Premier League defenders should consider themselves lucky they only have to face Luis Suarez twice a season.

The 25-year-old was in magnificent form again on Wednesday, scoring twice and assisting another as Sunderland were overpowered 3-0 at Anfield.

It took his goals tally for the season to 18 in all competitions, but Gerrard has explained how it is not just on a match day that Suarez is proving irrepressible.

"The players in the Premier League are lucky they only have to test themselves against him twice a season," said Gerrard.

"They should be very glad of that because he's running rings around us every day all year round. We have to put up with it every day.

"He's a warrior.

"It's very rare to see in a centre-forward that mentality - that they never give up and fight for every ball.

"Even when you are 3-0 up, he's the same. It's kids in the street stuff. He's the same every day in training."

Suarez has now fired twice in our last two games, and Gerrard thinks it could be a positive that he did not complete the hat-trick in either game.

"It's nice in a strange way that Luis hasn't had more hat-tricks because he will want more goals," said the skipper.

"Sometimes when forwards get hat-tricks they take their foot off the gas. I hope he's upset and went home angry on Wednesday night that he only got two.

"With a game against Man United coming up hopefully he's saving a few for them."