LIVERPOOL WAIUA NORWICH
They have been spoiled for
goalscorers down the years at Anfield but even those fortunate enough to
have lived through the Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish years can seldom
have seen anything to match this attacking masterclass from Luis Suarez.
There were supposed to be cracks appearing in the Liverpool push for a Champions League return after a recent dip in form, culminating in a widely and fiercely criticised defeat at Hull on Sunday.
Instead, the cracks were in Norwich's defence, and how Suarez exploited them with a 19-minute hat-trick that earned him a standing ovation when he left the field at half-time and another when he reappeared for the second half.
There were supposed to be cracks appearing in the Liverpool push for a Champions League return after a recent dip in form, culminating in a widely and fiercely criticised defeat at Hull on Sunday.
Instead, the cracks were in Norwich's defence, and how Suarez exploited them with a 19-minute hat-trick that earned him a standing ovation when he left the field at half-time and another when he reappeared for the second half.
Screamer: Luis Suarez opens the scoring at Anfield against Norwich with a stunning volley from 40-yards
Celebration: The Uruguayan wheels away jubilantly, and that wouldn't be the last time, either...
Not again: It was a tough night for Canaries 'keeper John Ruddy who must be sick of the sight of the striker
An outrageous dipping volley rom 40
yards, razor-sharp close-range finish from a corner and unerring
half-volley from the edge of the area combined to raise the roof at
Anfield and leave Norwich nursing a persecution complex.
Just for good measure, he followed that up with a free-kick 16 minutes from time.
Suarez became the first player in Barclays Premier League history to score three hat-tricks against the same team, while all six of his open-play goals from outside the box have also all come against Norwich.
It has taken him just 86 appearances to reach 50 Premier League goals, while his current 13-goal tally for this season is two more than the whole Norwich side have managed between them.
Liverpool's players took to the field with stinging criticism ringing in their ears from two legendary Anfield names following their dismal 3-1 defeat at Hull on Sunday.
John Aldridge used his newspaper column to accuse some senior players of 'not turning up' and lacking desire, while skipper Steven Gerrard was just as forthright in his match programme notes, claiming any repeat could cost Liverpool an overdue return to the Champions League next season.
The hosts hardly looked a side at ease with themselves in a shaky opening that could have been punished at least once in the opening quarter of an hour.
When Nathan Redmond swung a boot at the ball 20 yards out and took a clump of earth out of the pitch, Jonathan Howson showed him how it should be done with a far cleaner contact that flew narrowly over.
Just for good measure, he followed that up with a free-kick 16 minutes from time.
Suarez became the first player in Barclays Premier League history to score three hat-tricks against the same team, while all six of his open-play goals from outside the box have also all come against Norwich.
It has taken him just 86 appearances to reach 50 Premier League goals, while his current 13-goal tally for this season is two more than the whole Norwich side have managed between them.
Liverpool's players took to the field with stinging criticism ringing in their ears from two legendary Anfield names following their dismal 3-1 defeat at Hull on Sunday.
John Aldridge used his newspaper column to accuse some senior players of 'not turning up' and lacking desire, while skipper Steven Gerrard was just as forthright in his match programme notes, claiming any repeat could cost Liverpool an overdue return to the Champions League next season.
The hosts hardly looked a side at ease with themselves in a shaky opening that could have been punished at least once in the opening quarter of an hour.
When Nathan Redmond swung a boot at the ball 20 yards out and took a clump of earth out of the pitch, Jonathan Howson showed him how it should be done with a far cleaner contact that flew narrowly over.
At the double: Suarez notches his second, but not his last, as he steels in front of Russel Martin
Support: A Uruguay flag is seen in the crowd above as Suarez celebrates scoring his second
Simon
Mignolet scarcely inspired confidence in the seventh minute, as he
chased an overhit cross towards the far side of the area, only to find
the Norwich midfielder had got there before him. It could have been
acutely embarrassing for the Liverpool keeper, but for Howson hesitating
over who to pass to and giving Liverpool's defence time to regroup.
Despite the early uncertainty, Liverpool nearly went ahead with a glorious piece of close control and quick thinking from Philippe Coutinho in only the sixth minute.
Norwich gave him the opening by surrendering possession far too easily, but the way Coutinho capitalised was little short of spectacular, as he wriggled past three tackles in the tightest of spaces before hitting a left-foot shot that looked goalbound, until Sebastien Bassong launched himself into a saving block.
After that, it was the Suarez show, and it is rapidly turning into the hottest show in town.
Despite the early uncertainty, Liverpool nearly went ahead with a glorious piece of close control and quick thinking from Philippe Coutinho in only the sixth minute.
Norwich gave him the opening by surrendering possession far too easily, but the way Coutinho capitalised was little short of spectacular, as he wriggled past three tackles in the tightest of spaces before hitting a left-foot shot that looked goalbound, until Sebastien Bassong launched himself into a saving block.
After that, it was the Suarez show, and it is rapidly turning into the hottest show in town.
World class: The forward converts in fine fashion yet again to seal his hat-trick... his third against Norwich
Not much he can do: Ruddy sits on the deck as Suarez is congratulated by his Liverpool team-mates
All
the misgivings over Sunday's shortcomings were forgotten as the
Liverpool striker opened his account with a goal-of-the-season contender
that will take some beating.
Indeed, but for the fact that he may yet come up with something even more extraordinary before the campaign is out, they could declare the contest over now.
Leroy Fer missed his kick, as he tried to intercept a firm forward header from Gerrard, and that was all Suarez needed to advance a couple of paces and put every last pounce of effort into a 40-yard volley that flew over a startled John Ruddy and into the net, to the delight of a packed Kop behind the goal.
That was in the 16th minute, and if his second, 13 minutes later, was less eye-catching, it still said everything about his predatory instinct near goal. Coutinho whipped in a low bouncing corner from the left, and as it skidded off the turf, Suarez lashed a waist-high volley into the roof of the net before anyone else could react.
Indeed, but for the fact that he may yet come up with something even more extraordinary before the campaign is out, they could declare the contest over now.
Leroy Fer missed his kick, as he tried to intercept a firm forward header from Gerrard, and that was all Suarez needed to advance a couple of paces and put every last pounce of effort into a 40-yard volley that flew over a startled John Ruddy and into the net, to the delight of a packed Kop behind the goal.
That was in the 16th minute, and if his second, 13 minutes later, was less eye-catching, it still said everything about his predatory instinct near goal. Coutinho whipped in a low bouncing corner from the left, and as it skidded off the turf, Suarez lashed a waist-high volley into the roof of the net before anyone else could react.
Inevitable: He curls in a fantastic fourth
Inevitable: He curls in a fantastic fourth
Records: Suarez is just the third man to score a first-half hat-trick in the Premier League
When the hat-trick goal arrived, there was almost an air of inevitability about it, exceptional though his finish was from the edge of the area. Advancing towards the 18-yard line with the ball bouncing in front of him, he sensed the impending arrival of Fer on his right and responded by juggling it over him before hitting the crispest of half-volleys.
The vantage point from the press box is sideways on, rather than behind the line, yet there was a feeling of absolute certainty that the ball was bound for the corner of Ruddy's net, where it duly ended up, to jubilant roars from all corners of this famous old venue.
It didn't get noticeably easier for Norwich in the second half, as Gerrard added his threat to Liverpool's attacking potency and Suarez almost grabbed a fourth.
It took a smart save from Ruddy to keep out Gerrard's header, from Raheem Sterling's 52nd-minute cross, and another to get his fingertips to a typically rasping cross-shot by Suarez in the 64th minute.
The keeper could not deny the Uruguayan in the 74th minute, however, as Suarez put his free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner.
Norwich managed to conjure up a late consolation through Bradley Johnson, before Raheem Sterling rounded off a superb night for 'Pool.
But there would be no doubt who it was all about at Anfield.
Quick: Raheem Sterling was involved in a dynamic front three for the hosts
Thumbs up: Brendan Rodgers couldn't have been happier with the first-half blitz
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