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Liverpool logo
Premier League
Dec 4, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Norwich logo

5-1

Suarez (15', 29', 35', 74'), Sterling (88')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Johnson (83')

Live Commentary: Liverpool 5-1 Norwich City - as it happened

Live text commentary from the Premier League as Liverpool hosted Norwich City and won 5-1.
2

Luis Suarez produced a magnificent performance to score four goals to fire Liverpool to a 5-1 hammering of Norwich City in the Premier League at Anfield.

The Uruguayan hit a 35-minute hat-trick - his third against the Canaries - in a performance in which he dominated the Norwich defence throughout.

Raheem Sterling scored his side's fifth after Bradley Johnson had headed in a consolation goal at the other end.

Read how the action unfolded below.


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Good afternoon everyone! We have a full night of Premier League action for you with 18 of the 20 teams in action. I'll be bringing coverage from Anfield as Liverpool take on Norwich City.

Liverpool have started the season brilliantly, but apart from the 4-0 hammering of Fulham a couple of weeks ago they have stuttered of late. They have conceded six goals in their last two - a 3-3 draw at Everton and a 3-1 defeat away to Hull City.

They are back at Anfield now, however, where they have really impressed for the most part. They have won five of six here and must be targeting another three points tonight. With 13 goals scored and just three conceded, Norwich fans won't be expecting too much here.

About a month ago, the side from East Anglia were looking in real trouble. But when you are at the bottom a couple of wins can suddenly make things look rosy again. Most importantly, Norwich have beaten two of the sides around them recently, with West Ham United and Crystal Palace all tasting defeat against the Canaries in recent weeks.

Those wins were both at Carrow Road, however. Away from home, Norwich's record is better only than the two bottom sides Palace and Sunderland. They have also conceded more away from home than any other team in the league, which doesn't bode particularly well for the fans who have made the long trip to Anfield tonight.

Without further ado, I'll bring the teams right over to you. There are four changes in total. But who for? I'll let you know in a minute or two.

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Johnson, Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel; Allen, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho; Suarez

Liverpool bench: Jones, Toure, Sakho, Moses, Alberto, Aspas, Lucas

NORWICH XI: Ruddy; Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Johnson, Fer, Howson, Hoolahan, Redmond; Elmander

Norwich bench: Nash, Whittaker, Turner, Hooper, Garrido, Becchio, Murphy

So it's Brendan Rodgers, whose side was defeated by Hull last time out, who makes three changes to his lineup. Out go Victor Moses, Lucas Leiva and Kolo Toure, with Daniel Agger, Joe Allen and Philippe Coutinho all back in.

For Norwich, it's just the one change by Chris Hughton as he looks to not change a winning team. Bradley Johnson replaces Gary Hooper as he switches to five in midfield to help them battle in the middle of the park. A good move, I think.

Recent history between these two teams is not pleasant reading for the Canaries. Liverpool have won seven of the last eight league games between the two sides, with the other a draw. I do expect it to be eight from nine.

Another statistic to strike fear into the hearts of Norwich fans is that Luis Suarez, who starts as the focal point of the Reds' attack tonight, has bagged seven goals in three appearances against them. Two hat-tricks and a solitary effort. That is form.

Who's going to win then? Well, if you ask the bookmakers they will categorically say Liverpool and you will not make any kind of money for backing them tonight. The best you'll get is 2/7 for the hosts, while Norwich are way back at 12/1.

The draw is 11/2, which if you fancy a gamble might be the result to go for if you feel Liverpool are still in the middle of a tricky run of form. Personally, I wouldn't go for anything other than a home win.

PREDICTION: Here it is then... You might be surprised to see that I'm going for a comfortable home win. I can't even see Norwich scoring, to be honest, so I'm plumping for a 3-0 victory for Liverpool. You can get about 6/1 for that if you're silly enough to listen to me.

Norwich's best chance tonight will be if they manage to shut out Liverpool. They certainly won't be able to outscore them in a free-scoring contest, but nicking a 1-0? Possible. After all, three of their four victories so far have been 1-0.

Hughton has taken charge of 25 away games - in the Premier League - and his side have won just three of them. A whole 15 have ended in defeat - Norwich really don't enjoy their travels. Their last win at Anfield? 1994. How they would love to make it two wins in 19 years.

So just five minutes from kickoff then. From a neutral point of view, an early goal for Norwich would really add some spice to this, but even just Liverpool not having the points wrapped up by half-time would be good!

The teams are out and we're almost ready for kickoff.

KICKOFF: The hosts get us underway then, with Suarez and Coutinho taking the kick.

It has been a decent start from the visitors. Redmond brings down a high ball superbly and finds Johnson, who skins Gerrard on the left but Liverpool manage to clear. It's really high pressing early on as Redmond has an effort blocked before Howson skies one from range. This is just what Hughton will have wanted from his players.

More possession now from the hosts, but they aren't being given much room to play in. Glen Johnson takes things into his own hands, driving forward and shooting from about 25 yards but it was a horrible effort and easily blocked. Then Coutinho does brilliantly to get into the box, but his shot is blocked by Bassong.

Bit of a nervy moment from Mignolet there. Hoolahan first misses a header, but Howson arrives before the keeper and takes it to the byline. However, Hoolahan is put under enough pressure to miskick the cutback.

Suarez given the chance to run for the first time as he picks up a pass and drives into the box from the left, but his pass to Coutinho is cut out and cleared. At the other end Mignolet is the first keeper tested. Hoolahan plays a one-two with Elmander and spins on to his left, but his shot down low is gathered comfortably.

Norwich have attacked at pace so far, but they have also defended very rigidly. They have 10 behind the ball when not in possession and Liverpool have struggled to find room so far. Suarez does well to win the ball back and find Henderson, but his left-footed curled effort goes high and wide.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Norwich (Luis Suarez)

That. Is out of this world! Suarez picks up the ball some 40 yards from goal and although Ruddy is slightly off his line he's surely not shooting? You bet he is, and loops it over the keeper and straight in. That is magic from the Uruguayan.

Norwich have done so well to keep things tight and threaten on the break, but you just cannot account for things like that. Suarez is a match-winner and even if Liverpool end up taking this just 1-0 it will be deserved because of the quality of that hit.

BOOKING: How can the visitors respond? Well they just have to keep the same tempo as they have so far. A clearly frustrated Johnson takes out Suarez form behind and is rightly booked. That's what you get for scoring goals of that quality I guess.

What a magnificent ball in from Coutinho, but no-one was arriving late at the far post. The Brazilian takes up the ball on the left, cuts on to his right and fizzes a bending low cross that skids across the six-yard box and out for a goal kick.

There hasn't been another chance since that goal - if you can even call that a chance... Norwich are seeing plenty of the ball in the last few minutes but don't have the same penetration they managed early on. Hoolahan arrives at the far post from a Johnson cross but pokes his effort over the bar.

The movement from Suarez and Coutinho is starting to cause panic in the Norwich back line. They're weaving and running at all sorts of angles, but up to now the Canaries back four has held up quite well.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Norwich (Luis Suarez)

If the first goal was outrageous, then this is a proper striker's goal. He has it all, Suarez. Coutinho whips in a corner, which Suarez meets to prod his side into a 2-0 lead. That could well be that.

As Johnson skids an effort just wide from the corner of the box, Suarez moves just one goal away from becoming the first player to score three Premier League hat-tricks against the same club. It was a marvellous finish with his left-foot as he managed to keep a rising effort under the bar.

BOOKING: Joe Allen goes into the box for pulling down Johnson not too far outside the box. It was clumsy, as he fell over before pulling his man down.

GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Norwich (Luis Suarez)

Redmond's effort from the free kick goes around the wall and straight to where Mignolet was standing. The keeper held it well and Liverpool escape. At the other end it's more magic from Suarez! He flicks over Fer, before dummying a shot in the air and catching it on the half-volley to send it flying past Ruddy. Suarez does indeed become the first player to score a league hat-trick against the same club. Poor old Norwich.

The Liverpool fans are loving this and they want their hero Gerrard on the scoresheet too. His shot from about 25 yards is comfortable for Ruddy.

It really is a case now of how many Liverpool want to score. Norwich haven't been bad by any means, but everything that the Reds - particularly Suarez - touch is turning to gold at the moment.

Allen is coming more and more into this as the Reds start to take control of the midfield. Can they get another before the break? They have a late corner...

We are into the first of two minutes of time to be added on at the end of this first half.

HALF-TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Norwich

So it's half time in the Suarez show. He leaves the field with a huge grin on his face and I cannot blame him a jot. All three goals have been brilliant in their own way and he now has 10 in three against the Canaries. Ridiculous.

What can Hughton say to his players at the break? They've played well but are not surely out of this one as a contest. If it wasn't for Suarez, they might well still be level. But Suarez is playing and the visitors have not had an answer to him at all.

What can you say about that first goal? It will surely be up for goal of the season, as he struck a half-volley from fully 40 yards over Ruddy and straight into the net. His other two weren't half bad either. The second was a stabbed effort high into the net after Gerrard ducked from a corner and the third a wonderful flick and half-volley.

Norwich started the game really well and had a couple of early chances. They pressed high and were tight at the back. However, after that worldy from Suarez their heads dropped slightly, which was all Liverpool needed to get on top of the game. Since that, they have been comfortably the better side.

Norwich, with nothing but an uphill task, kick us off for the second 45.

Norwich are just being crowded out in midfield now as they look to create a move. Hughton could only have said to keep it up, because their effort has been fine. Will Suarez get any more this half. I've heard that Suarez's first effort has been measured at 42 yards.

Johnson is too slow on the ball and is robbed by Coutinho, who drives goalwards but cannot slalom his way into the box. Liverpool come back through Henderson, who is brought down by Fer and Liverpool have a dangerous free kick about 25 yards out.

OFF THE LINE: Really poor effort from the set piece from Coutinho, who goes low and to the side of the wall but it bobbles well wide. Gerrard might take the next one then. They come again and the ball is stood up from the right by Sterling to Gerrard, whose header is kept out on the line by Bennett.

Flanagan finds himself well placed about 25 yards from goal, but that's why he's a right-back as he pulls his shot wide of the near post. Ruddy would have preferred if Suarez's chances in the first half had all fallen to him I bet!

SAVE! What a save from Ruddy! Sterling wastes a glorious four-on-two chance and from the corner it comes out to Allen, who strikes a wonderful 30-yard effort but the keeper tips it away from the top corner at full stretch.

It's still all Liverpool, but Bennett is doing his level best to keep them out. Flanagan fizzes in a cross from the left, but the centre-back is there to hack into the stands. You feel it's only a matter of time before they score again.

NORWICH SUB: That's a decent effort from Redmond, who has been Norwich's best player going forward. He cuts in from the left but skids an effort wide of the near post. They make a chance with Josh Murphy on for Hoolahan.

SAVE! That's almost Suarez's fourth from a really tight angle. His low shot has a lot of power but big Ruddy is down really well to parry it away. Pure confidence in that strike from the Uruguayan.

Sheer pace from Redmond down the left, who completely skins Johnson. Having got there, however, there was nothing on for him in the box and he ends up running it out of play.

Neither side is on top of proceeding just now, and in fact the passing has become a little scrappy. There's plenty of space on the Norwich left for Redmond, which cold be a mistake to drop off him.

SUBS: Straight swap up front for Norwich as Gary Hooper comes on for Elmander. Henderson is also off for Luis Alberto. There was a booking in there, too, for the hosts' Flanagan, but I'm not quite sure what for.

NORWICH SUB: Whittaker is on for Fer for the final 20 minutes.

GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Norwich (Luis Suarez)

Who else? What an unbelievable player he is. It's a five-man wall as he stands over a free kick around 25 yards out, but he runs up and whips it right into the top corner. Incredible performance from him. What else can you say?

There's enough time for Suarez to get six, if he's not taken off early for a well-deserved rest. This has been one of the best solo performances I have ever seen.

CHANCE! It might well be his fifth! Johnson does brilliantly down the right and cuts back for Suarez, who has the space for a shot but scuffs it low straight to Ruddy.

CLOSE! Gerrard so close to adding one of his own. Suarez, of course, is heavily involved as he chests it down on the edge of the box to Gerrard, who rifles a shot just wide of the far post. Ruddy was beaten.

Coutinho wants a foul on the edge of the box, but he went down a little easily under the slightest touch. Once more it was Suarez who found him with a wonderful outside-of-the-boot through ball.

GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Norwich (Bradley Johnson)

Norwich get the goal that they probably do deserve. Redmond, of course, is the dangerman as he cuts on to his right to whip in a cross that Johnson meets to guide a powerful header into the top corner. It's a great goal but there's no reaction at all from anywhwere really.

Hughton will be relieved that he only has to come up against Suarez twice this season. They really haven't played badly at all, but have just been totally outclassed by one man.

GOAL! Liverpool 5-1 Norwich (Raheem Sterling)

It's a different scorer, but the same man is involved. Suarez does really well down the left and cuts inside to Sterling, who rifles in a brilliant finish high into the net.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Initially Gerrard was coming off, but having taken the armband off it is instead Suarez who makes way to a wall of noise around the Kop. He has been magnificent. Oh, Iago Aspas is on.

FULL-TIME: Liverpool 5-1 Norwich City

What a show from Suarez! He has four goals and an assist to fire Liverpool to a magnificent win. Norwich played their part, but were undone by one of the best players in the world currently. They can't complain really.

Thanks for joining me tonight, that's all I've got time for here. Stick around for results and reaction to all tonight's games, as well as analysis of this one that will be up on site in about half an hour.

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