Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has backed Philippe Coutinho to become one of the world's very best players.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder continues to go from strength to strength for the Reds and further showcased his talents with a stunning brace in the season opening 4-3 win over Arsenal on Sunday.

Coutinho, 24, scored a sublime free-kick from range before tucking home Nathaniel Clyne's cross to help kickstart Liverpool's league campaign in winning style, prompting words of praise from his skipper who believes the top echelon of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez is not out of question.

"Messi, Ronaldo and Suarez - they are seen as the elite players in world football," Henderson told the Liverpool Echo.

"Philippe has certainly got the talent, the work ethic and the hunger to get into that bracket.

"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."