Liverpool signaled their intent to stay in the title race on Wednesday, laying an absolutely vicious beating on Norwich. While there's nothing terribly impressive about recording a home win against the Canaries this season, the manner in which they did it was sensational. They scored five times on 28 shots, with Luis Suarez scoring four times and assisting once in a 5-1 victory.
Liverpool vs. Norwich City: Final score 5-1, bow to your new god, Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez scored four goals and notched an assist against Norwich City in by far the best individual performance of the season in England.
Jan Kruger
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It was obvious from the early going that Liverpool were going to score. Norwich came up with a couple of good blocks in their penalty area early, but Suarez eventually broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a stunning 35-yard chip. Off a bad touch in midfield from Leroy Fer, he spotted John Ruddy off his line and lobbed him from long range.
Things got ugly fast for the visitors. Suarez scored his second with a close-range tap-in off a corner in the 28th minute, then completed his hat trick seven minutes later with a 20-yard low strike that beat Ruddy at the far post after he made Fer look bad once again, beating him to create space for the shot.
The beginning of the first half was uneventful. With the game well in hand for Liverpool, neither team had much incentive to take serious risks, and Liverpool looked like they’d have no problem holding on. Suarez added his fourth in the 74th minute, curling a free kick around the Norwich wall from 25 yards.
Norwich got one back in the 83rd minute through Bradley Johnson, who turned in a cross by Nathan Redmond, but there would be no comeback. Liverpool added their fifth two minutes from regular time, with Suarez setting up Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Flanagan, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson (Alberto 69’), Coutinho, Suarez (Aspas 89’), Sterling
Goals: Suarez (15’. 28’, 35’, 74’), Sterling (88’)
Norwich: Ruddy, Olsson, Bassong, Bennett, Martin, Johnson, Howson, Fer (Whittaker 72’), Redmond, Elmander (Hooper 69’), Hoolahan (Murphy 62’)
Goals: Johnson (83’)
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