Liverpool winger Stuart Downing has said that striker Luis Suarez is in with "a hell of a chance" of winning the Player of the Year award.

Suarez is second favourite with the bookies to win the Professional Football Association's Player of the Year prize, with Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie also in the running.

Downing believes that if the award is judged purely on performances in big matches, his teammate deserves to claim it.

He told The Mirror: "It should only be judged on his performance on the field and you can't fault Luis for that.

"Obviously he's had things, which have happened in the past, but he's got on with his football and does his job at the end of the day.

"It should be judged on how he plays and for me, that's all it boils down to. Nothing else should matter and for me, I think he's got a hell of a chance."

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has also backed the Uruguayan to claim the award following his hat-trick in Saturday's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic.