Premier League - Suarez hits hat-trick as Liverpool roar past Cardiff
Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge celebrate a Liverpool goal against Cardiff City (Reuters)
Premier League, Cardiff City Stadium - Cardiff City 3 (Mutch 9, 88, Campbell 25) Liverpool 6 (Suarez 16, 60, 90+6, Skrtel 41, 54, Sturridge 75)
Liverpool twice came from behind before roaring to a 6-3 win at Cardiff City to keep their Premier League title challenge on track.
A hat-trick from Luis Suarez and two from Martin Skrtel and another from Daniel Sturridge saw them slice through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's relegation candidates.
Suarez completed his hat-trick with virtually the final kick of the game. Between them, Suarez and Sturridge's 47 Premier League goals were one more than Manchester United had mustered all season prior to their Saturday evening game at West Ham - a stat that quickly did the rounds on social media, and no doubt helped inspire the Red Devils' fast start at West Ham to go 2-0 up in half an hour.
First-half strikes from Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell had given hope to the home fans, who waved blue scarves en masse to protest against the club's ownership.
But they could not stem the tide of pacy, technical Liverpool attacks, and once Suarez and Sturridge hit their stride victory was assured despite defensive frailties that allowed Mutch to score his second late on.
Brendan Rodgers' side remain four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. Manchester City are a further two points adrift with two in hand on Liverpool and three on Chelsea.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Luis Suarez – The Uruguayan was everywhere for Liverpool in attack. It wasn’t just his hattrick but his all round play and creativity caused Cardiff problems all day long. He even had time to lay a goal on for his strike partner.
PLAYER RATINGS
CARDIFF: Marshall 5; Fabio , Theophile-Catherine 6, Caulker 6, Cala 5, John 5; Medel 6, Kim 5, Mutch 7; Bellamy 6, Campbell 7. Subs: Jones 6, Daehli 6, Zaha 6.
LIVERPOOL Mignolet 5, Johnson 6, Flanagan 6, Agger 6, Skrtel 8, Gerrard 6, Allen 6, Henderson 7, Coutinho 7, Suarez 9, Sturridge 7. Subs: Sakho n/a, Cissokho 6, Sterling 6.
Fulham: Stockdale 6, Heitinga 5, Hangeland 5, Amorebieta 4, Riise 5, Kacaniklic 6, Riether 6, Kvist 6, Sidwell 5, Richardson 6, Woodrow 5… Subs: Holtby 6, Roberts 6, Kasami 6.