Premier League: Norwich 0 Liverpool 3

A Luis Suarez hat-trick, sealed in style with a 45-yard effort, saw Liverpool to a 3-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Suarez struck twice in quick succession, first profiting from Steven Gerrard’s smart interception and pass to calmly strike home, then capitalising on an Elliott Ward mistake for a 2-0 lead at the break.

Norwich were improved but uninspiring in the second half and Suarez sealed the three points with a sensational long-range shot from just inside the opposition half.

Norwich lost Adam Drury to a groin injury early and it took until the 17th minute for anyone to find a chance in a very slow start.

Striker Suarez advanced down the inside-left channel and aimed a pass towards the far post, but Stewart Downing was wrong-footed and clumsily failed to control his touch.

Suarez lit up the game when put through on goal by Gerrard before dispatching a left-footed effort with little fuss.

In a quick follow-up, the Reds broke forward again, with Gerrard this time the man trying to pull the trigger from the edge of the area, but Ryan Bennett deflected it away from danger.

Suarez capitalised on another defensive lapse from the hosts when Ward meekly let him past him before he finished from the corner of the penalty box with the utmost precision.

Five minutes after half-time the hosts finally had their first shot, Elliott Bennett producing a slightly swerving long-range effort that Pepe Reina turned away.

The Reds pushed back the next minute as Suarez’s shot ricocheted into the path of Jonjo Shelvey, who nodded it against the bar.

The youngster was involved again straight away and should have made it three as he arrived in the middle to reach a delivery from the left, but he slipped slightly on the wet pitch and hit it glaringly wide.

Suarez then killed the game off with another moment of individual brilliance, spotting John Ruddy off his line and launching an inch-perfect shot from long range to put the finishing touch on his first hat-trick for the Reds.