Stunning four-goal haul for Suarez as Liverpool crush Norwich
Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City also win, but United cut adrift in title race as they lose 1-0 to Everton
Luis Suarez’s stunning quadruple for Liverpool capped a goal-laden night in the English Premier League that saw the top four all win, but Manchester United lose 1-0 to Everton to be cut adrift in the title race.
Arsenal preserved its four-point lead as Nicklas Bendtner capitalised on a rare start to score in a 2-0 win over Hull, while Eden Hazard capped a brilliant performance with two goals in Chelsea’s wild 4-3 victory at Sunderland.
Manchester City stayed third by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-2, mainly thanks to Yaya Toure’s brace, but the star of the night was Suarez, whose four goals in a 5-1 thrashing of Norwich included a 40-metre looping volley as part of a first-half hat-trick.
Just the fear he [Suarez] puts in defenders – the quality of his finishing is phenomenal
“Just the fear he puts in defenders – the quality of his finishing is phenomenal,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said of the Uruguay striker, who has now scored 11 goals in his last four games against Norwich.
While the front runners were all winning, United slumped to a fourth defeat of a turbulent first season in charge for David Moyes, whose old club of 11 years claimed a first win at Old Trafford since 1992 thanks to Bryan Oviedo’s 86th-minute goal.
“It’s a big catch-up for us now,” said Moyes, whose team dropped to ninth place in the stuttering defence of its title – 12 points behind Arsenal after 14 games.
Tottenham ruined Rene Meulensteen’s first match in charge of Fulham by winning 2-1 at Craven Cottage, giving Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas a first win in five games and some much-needed breathing space.