Uruguay hitman Luis Suarez has luck to thank for his 85th-minute winner in the 2-1 World Cup victory over England on Thursday, according to Gary Cahill.

Suarez pounced on a Steven Gerrard error five minutes from the end before smashing past Joe Hart to leave England on the brink of a first group-stage exit for 56 years.

The Liverpool striker, who scored 31 times for the Reds last season, had also opened the scoring, but the Three Lions defender says that there was a large degree of fortune over his timely second.

"He was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and he's a great finisher," the Chelsea defender told FIFA.com.

"He took his first goal really well. I thought his second goal was very fortunate, sometimes you need that bit of luck in the game and it fell for them today."

Roy Hodgson's side must beat Costa Rica in their final Group D encounter next week and hope that Italy win their two remaining fixtures to stand any hope of reaching the last 16.