LIVERPOOL YAIUA HULL CITY 2 - 0
Liverpool 2 Hull 0
Another exceptional finish from Luis Suarez and skipper Steven Gerrard back ahead of schedule. The graph kept rising for Liverpool throughout the old year, and there is little to suggest the new one will be any different.
Visiting managers to Anfield have employed a variety of methods to try and subdue Suarez, but an effective one remains elusive. Hull's basically involved kicking him at every turn, but, directly or indirectly, it led to both Liverpool goals.
When James Chester launched himself needlessly at the Uruguay star in the 37th minute, in a position of no danger, the resulting corner led to Daniel Agger heading the hosts in front.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch the post-match reaction of Rodgers and Bruce
Magic: Luis Suarez touches his right boot after netting a sublime strike to give Liverpool a two-goal cushion
Unstoppable: Suarez scored a remarkable
free-kick to seal the points for Liverpool - who have have now won seven
straight in the Premier League at Anfield
Head start: Daniel Agger rose to nod home Liverpool's opening goal of the game
Match facts
Liverpool:
Mignolet 6; Johnson 7 (Toure 55min, 6), Skrtel 6, Agger 7, Cissokho 6;
Lucas 6, Henderson 6; Sterling 6 (Moses 76), Coutinho 8, Aspas 6
(Gerrard 62, 7); Suarez 8.
Subs not used: Jones, Alberto, Kelly, Rossiter.
Booked: Suarez
Goals: Agger 36, Suarez 50
Hull City: McGregor 7; Chester 6, Bruce 6, Davies 6, Figueroa 6; Elmohamady 5, Livermore 6, Huddlestone 6, Koren 5 (Graham 58, 6), Meyler 5 (Boyd 58, 6); Sagbo 5 (Fryatt 58, 6).
Subs not used: Harper, Rosenior, Faye, Quinn.
Booked: Bruce
Man of the match: Philippe Coutinho.
Referee: Craig Pawson 5
Attendance: 44,627
Subs not used: Jones, Alberto, Kelly, Rossiter.
Booked: Suarez
Goals: Agger 36, Suarez 50
Hull City: McGregor 7; Chester 6, Bruce 6, Davies 6, Figueroa 6; Elmohamady 5, Livermore 6, Huddlestone 6, Koren 5 (Graham 58, 6), Meyler 5 (Boyd 58, 6); Sagbo 5 (Fryatt 58, 6).
Subs not used: Harper, Rosenior, Faye, Quinn.
Booked: Bruce
Man of the match: Philippe Coutinho.
Referee: Craig Pawson 5
Attendance: 44,627
The statistics are as stunning as his finishing. He went into the game as the only player in Liverpool's entire history to have scored two or more goals in five successive home League games, and while he narrowly failed to extend that sequence, he was at least on the scoresheet again to make it 14 in six.
It was the ideal response to consecutive 2-1 defeats at Manchester City and Chelsea and Brendan Rodgers was in no doubt about its significance.
'I've just told the players that was our best win of the season,' said the Liverpool manager. 'We have been vibrant and full of goals in so many games but I knew, after the fixtures we've had over Christmas and still using the same players, it would be a case of toughing it out today.
'Not only did we do that, we scored two great goals and created other opportunities, and I was very pleased with the team as a whole. It was a great header from Daniel to set us on our way, and Luis got his reward for putting up with an injury he picked up at Chelsea and insisting on playing.
Just like that: Agger is congratulated by his team-mates before the game re-starts
Hitting the deck: Suarez goes down under the challenge of Alex Bruce at Anfield
NEW YEAR WISHES
Liverpool: A steady supply of cotton wool for wrapping Luis Suarez in. Failing that, another top marksman to support him.
Hull: A proven goalscorer to provide the cutting edge that would surely be enough to safeguard their Barclays Premier League status.
Hull: A proven goalscorer to provide the cutting edge that would surely be enough to safeguard their Barclays Premier League status.
'It was a bad knock on his foot, and most players wouldn't have played a few days later. There's a lot of strapping on it, but there was never any question in his mind. He wanted to be out there for the good of the team, and it's that sort of attitude that enables him to score the goals he does.'
A marginal offside decision cost Suarez a 19th-minute breakthrough, after he sent a header flashing into the roof of the net from Philippe Coutinho's free-kick, but Hull paid for a moment of indiscipline 18 minutes later.
Suarez protested vigorously enough about Chester's reckless challenge to earn himself a booking, but there were no complaints from Agger as he rose to meet Coutinho's corner with a header that bounced in between Allan McGregor's dive and Maynor Figueroa's attempt to guard a post.
Jordan Henderson and Coutinho both squandered clear-cut chances from the edge of the area just before half-time, but another injudicious challenge from Chester again cost Hull soon after.
Welcome back: Steven Gerrard goes up for the ball with Hull's James Chester after coming on as a sub
SPORTSMAIL'S SUPER STAT
Suarez's goal was Liverpool's 50th in all competitions this season and their 25th in their last seven home games.
After chopping down Suarez 22 yards from goal, he could only look on as the Uruguay frontrunner arced the resulting free-kick over the wall and inside the top near corner of McGregor's net.
It could have been worse for Hull, as the livewire Countinho weaved his way past three challenges deep into added time before being denied by McGregor, and manager Steve Bruce conceded it was a game too far for his toiling team.
'That's the third time we have played in six days and there were a lot of tired bodies towards the end,' he said. 'We were game enough to keep going, but unfortunately I haven't got the luxury of making five or six changes, and it eventually took its toll.
Disbelief: Suarez looks surprised at referee Craig Pawson after picking up a yellow card in the first half
Watchful: Brendan Rodgers keeps an eye on his side
Gesticulating: Bruce urges his players on
Nice one: Suarez gives Pawson a thumbs-up during the second half
Putting a shift in: Luis Suarez covered a lot of ground, as his heat map shows above
Battle: Suarez and Bruce go head to head again as the pair wrestle for possession of the ball
'It is impossible to keep playing with the same intensity when games are coming thick and fast and when that happens and tiredness creeps in, your concentration levels slip and your passing starts to go.
'It was just too much for us, and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and accept you have been beaten by the better side on the day.'
Not yet: Tom Huddlestone (top) hasn't cut his hair after ending his goal drought last weekend
On the ball: Rodgers throws the ball back after it bounced into his technical area
Kop idol: Suarez basks in the glory of his free-kick in front of the celebrating Liverpool supporters
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