Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt believes summer-signing Ryan Babel can become Premiership ‘sensation’.

Of late, Babel, who joined the Reds during the summer from Ajax for £11m fee, is showing the full array of his talent and his masterly finish off a move set up by skipper Steven Gerrard in the 3-0 win at Newcastle United last weekend, has earned from his fellow Dutch international a lavish praise.

Babel, who has been dubbed by Dutch team team manager Marco Van Basten as “the next Thierry Henry”, had been recently urged by Reds boss Rafa Benitez to give more and the 20-year-old versatile attacker is warming up to fire on all cylinders.

Kuyt said in the Liverpool Echo: “I think Ryan can be a sensation in the Premiership. He has a lot of talent and ability and I think sometimes it is easy for people to forget how young he is.

“The Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world and it is also very physical, so it is normal that Ryan will need more time to show his best.

“But in every game and in every training session he is getting better and better and stronger and stronger. It is another level but I am sure he will be at that level very soon.”