Norwich, United Kingdom – Brendan Rodgers hailed Luis Suarez for the hat-trick that helped Liverpool taste Premier League victory for the first time this season with a 5-2 win away to Norwich.
Uruguay international Suarez had also scored three times in the same fixture last term when Kenny Dalglish was still in charge of Liverpool.
On this occasion, Nuri Sahin and Steven Gerrard were the Reds' other scorers as they savoured a first league win under Rodgers.
Victory lifted Liverpool out of the bottom three and removed a great deal of the pressure that had been resting on former Swansea manager Rodgers' shoulders before kick-off.
“The quality of our play was outstanding,” Rodgers said. “I remember Luis' goals here last year and I thought he gave another master-class in finishing, apart from the time when he was one on one and missed.
“His first goal was terrific as we played through the lines and the second one typifies him as he had just missed probably his easiest chance, the one-on-one.
“He didn't get disappointed and immediately he won the ball, produced an incredible piece of skill through the defender's legs and finished with the outside of his foot.
“So it was a special day for him and a special day for the team because I thought our performance was very pleasing.”
Rodgers was also convinced Suarez should have been awarded a penalty in the first half when Leon Barnett challenged him from behind.
Referee Mike Jones turned down Liverpool's appeal and Rodgers was adamant that was because Suarez has a reputation for diving, a subject he revealed he had broached with Mike Riley, the man in charge of the professional referees in England, ahead of Saturday's kick-off at Carrow Road.
“It was a stonewall penalty and I feel for the guy,” he said. “Everybody in the ground knew it was a penalty. The guy Barnett elbowed him in the head and pushed him to make sure but he still didn't get it. There's nothing we can do.
“I know how difficult a referee's job is Ä you never hear me many times, if any, killing referees. I want my players to respect referees and I have respect for them as well.
“I spoke to Mike Riley in the week over my concern because it has not just happened in one game, it has been a trend.
“So maybe one day we will get those decisions and in the meantime we will continue to concentrate on our performance.”
This result means Norwich have yet to win in the Premier League under their own new managerial appointment, Chris Hughton.
Steve Morison and captain Grant Holt, who came on at half-time, were their scorers but Liverpool were four goals ahead on both occasions.
Norwich are now in the bottom three, with only Reading and Queens Park Rangers below them, and Hughton admitted his side needed to tighten up at the back or they'd continue to struggle.
“You cannot afford to give them the opportunities we did,” Hughton said. “It was a day when Suarez was at his most clinical but you can't afford to give them that amount of space to score.
“We will make no excuses for today or for the points that we have. We are all still annoyed, disappointed and angry because of the goals we have conceded.”
This was not the first time Norwich have been beaten soundly this term, with Hughton's first game in charge a 5-0 defeat at Fulham.
“We will strive to bounce back from this one,” he said. “We got a real good reaction after the Fulham defeat and we will look to have that again.” – Sapa-AFP