Luis Suarez’s stunning 4 goal haul kills off Canaries

December 5, 2013
This Is Anfield

Liverpool supporters are running out of superlatives to use to describe Luis Suarez after his incredible four goal performance against Norwich at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Liverpool 5-1 Norwich City

Premier League, Wednesday 4th December 2013

Goals: Suárez 15, 29, 35, 74, Sterling 88 // Johnson 83

Suarez took his tally to 11 goals in 4 games against the Canaries with one of the most virtuoso displays you are likely to witness; arguably the greatest hat-trick scored by a Liverpool player ever – then followed up by a signature free-kick to add some icing on the cake.

Suarez’s first was just incredible. He had no right to shoot from there, let alone score; the keeper wasn’t even out of position! All of 40 yards out, without taking a touch, just hit it sweet as you like into the top corner. Incredible.

Anfield was full of supporters laughing at the incredulity of what they’d just witnessed.

The second wasn’t bad either, expertly hooking the ball in from Philippe Coutinho‘s. That this was the worst of the four says more about the quality of the other three than anything else.

The third, and arguably the best – Robbie Fowler said as much on Match of the Day – completed the hat-trick inside 35 minutes, his third against Norwich in four games. The fact their keeper, John Ruddy, hadn’t put a foot wrong all match says a lot too.

In fact, Ruddy pulled off a fine save from a Joe Allen strike in the second-half.

Suarez then left the keeper hapless again for his fourth, whipping in what is becoming a signature free-kick for the mercurial forward. Having allowed Coutinho to test his chance from a similar range not long before, Suarez stepped up and showed the Brazilian how it was done!

The fifth arrived after Bradley Johnson had blotted the copybook with a header at the Kop end; Suarez this time was provider, laying on for Raheem Sterling to score his first of the season.

Again, Suarez showed his team-mate how it’s done with Sterling having somehow messed up a four vs one opportunity not long before.

Tactics Overview

Rodgers again changed his centre-back pairing, going back to Daniel Agger alongside Martin Skrtel, while Lucas made way for Joe Allen in the holding midfield role.

Gerrard started the match alongside Allen in what would be described as a “2-1” shaped midfield – Coutinho at the point of the triangle. The second half saw Coutinho slightly deeper, Gerrard slightly more advanced and Allen at the base in a “1-2” shape.

Sterling started the game on the left side of attack, with Henderson on the right, but the two changed sides as the game progressed and proved more successful with Henderson left and Sterling right.

Alberto replaced Henderson in a like-for-like switch with 20 minutes remaining but Rodgers opted not to rest Gerrard or Suarez ahead of Saturday’s visit of West Ham, despite the game being comfortably won. Aspas came on in the final moments.