Luis Suarez celebrated his new Liverpool contract in fine style with two goals to add to his increasingly astounding season’s statistics and help his side to a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City at Anfield. The bumper new deal signed this week may not ensure that Suarez remains on Merseyside. Instead his career path is likely to be determined by Champions League qualification, something that looks an increasingly strong possibility with Suarez continuing to perform with such mesmeric quality. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers may soon have to revise his targets, with this latest win taking Liverpool top of the table, ahead of Monday’s meeting between the sides in second and third, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Liverpool were outstanding in the first half and a Cardiff side, for whom Malky Mackay took charge under the gaze of owner Vincent Tan, struggled to cope. Suarez was involved in everything positive, scoring the opener on 25 minutes, before unselfishly laying on the second for Raheem Sterling and then firing in the third in the closing stages of the first half. Not for the first time this season, Liverpool struggled to maintain their dominance after the break. Cardiff pulled a goal back through Jordan Mutch’s header and on another day might have caused a nervy finish for the majority if the exuberant fans inside Anfield.
As it was Liverpool saw out the final minutes in comfort, with Suarez coming close to getting another hat-trick, to record their fourth-straight league win. The team as a whole deserve credit, with a special mention again worthy for Jordan Henderson, but it is Suarez who is the inspiration. With 19 goals now in just 12 Premier League appearances, the Golden Boot looks a formality and various records a distinct possibility.
The concerns for Mackay are of an all-together more grave nature. Under an increasingly farcical ownership, his long, thoughtful gaze at the final whistle suggested he knows that this will be his final match in charge. While they lack the quality to go toe-to-toe with a Liverpool side in this kind of form, it is hard to envisage that Cardiff’s hopes of staying in the top flight will be enhanced by his dismissal. The reaction of the traveling fans to their manager after the match suggested they feel likewise.
More to follow.
Liverpool vs Cardiff City 3-1 All Goals... by videosondailymotion
VIDEO Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff: Highlights; Two Superb Suarez Goals Send Reds Top
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