Another sensational, Luis Suarez-inspired display took Liverpool to the top of the Premier League after blowing Cardiff away in the first-half.
Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City
Premier League, Saturday 21st December 2013
Goals: Suarez 25, 45, Sterling 42 // Mutch 58.
Suarez scored twice – both superb strikes – and assisted the other to give Brendan Rodgers’ side a comfortable lead at half-time.
Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson in particular were the attacking threats for Liverpool, who dominated the first-half in a similar fashion to their 5-0 thrashing at Tottenham last week.
The second half performance wasn’t on a par, and Liverpool again showed their achilles heel – conceding from a set-piece. Jordan Mutch was left completely unmarked to head in at the back post.
And Cardiff could have had a penalty when Martin Skrtel was lucky to get away with grappling from another set-piece.
But Liverpool had chances galore, Sterling and Suarez could both have added to their goals in the second half, while Glen Johnson missed a very good one-on-one chance in the first half.
The win takes Liverpool top of the table, where they will be on Christmas Day should Arsenal fail to beat Chelsea on Monday night. The Reds then face Man City on Boxing Day.
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Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan (Kelly 55), Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho (Agger 83), Suarez, Sterling.
Subs: Jones, Toure, Alberto, Aspas, Moses.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Theophile-Catherine, Taylor, Medel (Campbell 55), Caulker, Turner, Odemwingie (Kim 55), Mutch, Gunnarsson (Cornelius 80), Whittingham, Noone.
Subs: Lewis; Hudson, Cowie, John.
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