'Years at Liverpool changed Suarez from good striker to best in the world'

FC Barcelona’s Croatia international Rakitic, who joined the La Liga champions in June 2014, believes striker Luis Suarez's spell at Liverpool made him the most feared striker in the world.

Suarez was top scorer in the Premier League and claimed the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards at Liverpool in the 2013-14 season, inspiring the club to second-place top flight finish.

"The years at Liverpool were really important for Luis. There he takes the change from a good player to be the best striker in the world and then do the next step at Barcelona, Rakitic added.

"When he's not playing; it feels something's wrong. Luis is one of the most important players for us. He's a really good guy in the dressing room, one of the most open people who likes to joke."