Liverpool 4 West Ham United 1
Liverpool: Demel (og) 42', Sakho 47', Suarez 81', O'Brien (og) 84'
West Ham: Skrtel (og) 66'
Man of the match: Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
LIVERPOOL // Football can be a game of farce as well as flair. Liverpool’s 5-1 thrashing of Norwich City on Wednesday was a match of great goals.
This was one of own goals.
Four went in via defenders, with three debited to them. And yet, while others found the net accidentally, Luis Suarez did so deliberately to continue his glorious run.
The Uruguayan definitely scored Liverpool’s third. He claimed their fourth, too, which would be his 11th in four home games. If it goes down as a Joey O’Brien own goal, it would be harsh. Yet the overall impact of Suarez’s excellence lies not in his personal tally, but in the Premier League table.
Liverpool climbed to second and have scored 20 goals in their last five Anfield encounters. They are prolific and prospering.
West Ham, in comparison, are lumbering and losing. A fourth defeat in five games means they are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Their problems were compounded when captain Kevin Nolan was sent off for an ugly hack at Jordan Henderson.
His dismissal was sandwiched by two goals Suarez believed were his. First, he headed in Glen Johnson’s far-post cross.
Then, after typical trickery earned him the space to shoot, his effort was deflected in off O’Brien.
“He will claim it,” grinned manager Brendan Rodgers. “It was a wonderful piece of skill.”
While Liverpool made eight summer signings, it is indisputable now that their finest piece of business was keeping Suarez.
“I don’t think you can put a price on him and I wouldn’t want to,” said Rodgers, who rejected Arsenal’s offer of £40 million (Dh240.1m).
“I wouldn’t swap him for anyone. He is up there with the best players in the world.”
It is not just a question of ability, but of attitude. His work rate is a reason for Suarez’s capacity to make things happen time and again. Without applying the finishing touch, he nevertheless fashioned the breakthrough.
His stinging half-volley was parried by Jussi Jaaskelainen, but struck defender Guy Demel and bounced in.
Liverpool’s second also came in fortunate fashion, when Mamadou Sakho opened his account for the club. The centre-back met Steven Gerrard’s free kick with a mis-hit volley that nevertheless went in, with James Collins trying to hook it clear, but instead diverting it into the net via the underside of the bar.
Then Martin Skrtel, who celebrated that goal with the manner of a man who applied the finishing touch, scored the next, albeit at the wrong end. It drew a response from a relentless Liverpool side.
“We had 29 attempts and we could have easily doubled the four goals we scored,” Rodgers said.
He continues to ignore talk of the title, but Liverpool are piling up the points. Their one worry was the loss of captain Gerrard with a hamstring strain that will be assessed today.
“He felt a little tweak,” Rodgers said. “His performance was outstanding.”
But, as ever, the headlines belonged to Suarez.
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