reporters Liverpool 5-1 Norwich City
guardian
Torture by Luis Suárez has become a matter of routine for Norwich City but that does not diminish his capacity to astonish. The Liverpool striker continued his personal crusade against Chris Hughton's team with four memorable goals as Brendan Rodgers' men responded to defeat at Hull City in convincing style. They were led by a genuine masterclass from their No7.
Suárez took his individual tally against Norwich to 11 goals in four appearances with one outrageous 40-yard strike, an instinctive piece of skill, a glorious half volley and a 25-yard free-kick, becoming the Premier League's leading goalscorer in the process. And to think he only commenced this season on 25 September. He also found time to create the fifth for Raheem Sterling.
The 26-year-old now has 51 league goals in the red of Liverpool. Quite what Norwich have done to warrant this continued, ruthless punishment is unknown but there will be no complaints from Rodgers.
The Liverpool manager had invited scrutiny after Sunday's defeat at the KC Stadium by insisting his squad could not cope with the absence of Daniel Sturridge plus, for 66 minutes, Philippe Coutinho. There were no such reservations here. Norwich could not handle the simply irrepressible Suárez. It is safe to say no team could have done.
The difference was the outstanding Suárez, clearly, but there was also far greater urgency and intent from Liverpool than in their dreadful showing at Hull City on Sunday. The reaction was just what Rodgers had demanded and was not confined to just one man.
Norwich were not that bad, the visitors opened promisingly with Nathan Redmond prominent off the left wing and Jonny Howson forcing Simon Mignolet into an early save.
However, a slight mistake from Leroy Fer was punished with ruthless brilliance by the Uruguay international and the confidence suddenly surged through Liverpool and their No7.
Fer had escaped with a few loose passes around his own penalty area before another careless touch from the Dutch midfielder dropped to Suárez inside the Norwich half. Fer had every reason to believe he would escape again, the striker was around 40 yards from John Ruddy's goal after all, but everyone inside Anfield was stunned as Suárez went for the first time shot and astonished when it flew over Ruddy into the Kop goal.
The goalkeeper was not far off his line when the striker took aim and he continued his habit of torturing Norwich with incredible goals from distance.
Wes Hoolahan missed a decent chance to equalise from a Bradley Johnson cross and, from Liverpool's next attack, Suárez doubled the home side's advantage. Again the finish was immaculate, a hooked volley from close range, but once more Chris Hughton had cause to rue lapses from his players. A miscued corner from Coutinho, whose return to the starting lineup improved the supply to and speed of the Liverpool attack, found Steven Gerrard at the near post. He failed to connect with a glancing header but still the ball sailed through to the unmarked Suárez to apply an emphatic final touch.
Suárez was simply unstoppable, unplayable, and his hat-trick goal was another that left Anfield drooling. A swarm of white shirts closed in on the forward as he attacked Norwich down the inside left channel. He reacted by flicking the ball over Fer, letting it drop on the edge of the penalty area and angling his body to drive a wonderful half volley across Ruddy and into the far corner.
The hat-trick was Suárez's third in four games against Norwich, was a privilege to witness and meant the Uruguayan became the first player in Premier League history to score three trebles against the same team. "I wish Suarez would just leave us alone," tweeted Norwich's Anthony Pilkington. Suárez departed at half-time to a standing ovation and a wave to his family in the Centenary Stand.
Liverpool continued to penetrate easily after the interval. Ryan Bennett cleared off the line from Gerrard's diving header at the end of a flowing move, Ruddy saved brilliantly from a Joe Allen drive from 25 yards, the Welshman recalled at the expense of Lucas Leiva, and Suárez forced another low save from the keeper before scoring his fourth of the night.
Opposition teams have had enough warning of Suárez's ability from free-kicks of late but there is little they can do about them. Ruddy was easily beaten as the striker whipped his set-piece over the Norwich wall and inside the keeper's right-hand post.
The visitors grabbed a late consolation when Johnson headed in from Redmond's cross but the final word deservedly belonged to Liverpool. Suárez was inevitably involved with a low centre that Sterling converted at the back post. In the final minute Rodgers attempted to substitute Gerrard for a standing ovation. His captain said no and made Suárez leave to one instead.
Suárez took his individual tally against Norwich to 11 goals in four appearances with one outrageous 40-yard strike, an instinctive piece of skill, a glorious half volley and a 25-yard free-kick, becoming the Premier League's leading goalscorer in the process. And to think he only commenced this season on 25 September. He also found time to create the fifth for Raheem Sterling.
The 26-year-old now has 51 league goals in the red of Liverpool. Quite what Norwich have done to warrant this continued, ruthless punishment is unknown but there will be no complaints from Rodgers.
The Liverpool manager had invited scrutiny after Sunday's defeat at the KC Stadium by insisting his squad could not cope with the absence of Daniel Sturridge plus, for 66 minutes, Philippe Coutinho. There were no such reservations here. Norwich could not handle the simply irrepressible Suárez. It is safe to say no team could have done.
The difference was the outstanding Suárez, clearly, but there was also far greater urgency and intent from Liverpool than in their dreadful showing at Hull City on Sunday. The reaction was just what Rodgers had demanded and was not confined to just one man.
Norwich were not that bad, the visitors opened promisingly with Nathan Redmond prominent off the left wing and Jonny Howson forcing Simon Mignolet into an early save.
However, a slight mistake from Leroy Fer was punished with ruthless brilliance by the Uruguay international and the confidence suddenly surged through Liverpool and their No7.
Fer had escaped with a few loose passes around his own penalty area before another careless touch from the Dutch midfielder dropped to Suárez inside the Norwich half. Fer had every reason to believe he would escape again, the striker was around 40 yards from John Ruddy's goal after all, but everyone inside Anfield was stunned as Suárez went for the first time shot and astonished when it flew over Ruddy into the Kop goal.
The goalkeeper was not far off his line when the striker took aim and he continued his habit of torturing Norwich with incredible goals from distance.
Wes Hoolahan missed a decent chance to equalise from a Bradley Johnson cross and, from Liverpool's next attack, Suárez doubled the home side's advantage. Again the finish was immaculate, a hooked volley from close range, but once more Chris Hughton had cause to rue lapses from his players. A miscued corner from Coutinho, whose return to the starting lineup improved the supply to and speed of the Liverpool attack, found Steven Gerrard at the near post. He failed to connect with a glancing header but still the ball sailed through to the unmarked Suárez to apply an emphatic final touch.
Suárez was simply unstoppable, unplayable, and his hat-trick goal was another that left Anfield drooling. A swarm of white shirts closed in on the forward as he attacked Norwich down the inside left channel. He reacted by flicking the ball over Fer, letting it drop on the edge of the penalty area and angling his body to drive a wonderful half volley across Ruddy and into the far corner.
The hat-trick was Suárez's third in four games against Norwich, was a privilege to witness and meant the Uruguayan became the first player in Premier League history to score three trebles against the same team. "I wish Suarez would just leave us alone," tweeted Norwich's Anthony Pilkington. Suárez departed at half-time to a standing ovation and a wave to his family in the Centenary Stand.
Liverpool continued to penetrate easily after the interval. Ryan Bennett cleared off the line from Gerrard's diving header at the end of a flowing move, Ruddy saved brilliantly from a Joe Allen drive from 25 yards, the Welshman recalled at the expense of Lucas Leiva, and Suárez forced another low save from the keeper before scoring his fourth of the night.
Opposition teams have had enough warning of Suárez's ability from free-kicks of late but there is little they can do about them. Ruddy was easily beaten as the striker whipped his set-piece over the Norwich wall and inside the keeper's right-hand post.
The visitors grabbed a late consolation when Johnson headed in from Redmond's cross but the final word deservedly belonged to Liverpool. Suárez was inevitably involved with a low centre that Sterling converted at the back post. In the final minute Rodgers attempted to substitute Gerrard for a standing ovation. His captain said no and made Suárez leave to one instead.
