Cardiff 3-6 Liverpool: Suarez, Skrtel and Sturridge make it six wins on the spin as Reds keep up title momentum

By Martha Kelner

PUBLISHED: 11:54 EST, 22 March 2014 | UPDATED: 20:59 EST, 22 March 2014

Match zone

Click here for your ultimate stats package from the big game, including this illustraion of Luis Suarez's first goal...

Suarez

If Liverpool achieve the extraordinary and win the title this year it will almost certainly hinge on the blistering form of Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan scored his third hat-trick of the season to equal Robbie Fowler’s club record of 28 goals in one campaign.

That is with eight games yet to play and despite missing the first five games of the season through suspension.

His closest rival is nine goals adrift. Strike partner Daniel Sturridge has scored 19.

Together, they have outscored all but three other teams in the league.  They are simply unstoppable and it is irresistible to watch.

You could even forgive the blatant selfishness in the 90th minute when Suarez was one-on-one with Cardiff keeper David Marshall.

Double act: Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were at their clinical best once more as Liverpool hit six

Double act: Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were at their clinical best once more as Liverpool hit six

Level-pegging: Suarez hits Liverpool's first, negating Jordan Mutch's opener

Level-pegging: Suarez hits Liverpool's first, negating Jordan Mutch's opener

Make mine a double: Martin Skrtel stretches to convert his first of the afternoon to pull Liverpool level before the break

Make mine a double: Martin Skrtel stretches to convert his first of the afternoon to pull Liverpool level before the break

Rising to the top: Skrtel powers Phillipe Coutinho's corner beyond Cardiff keeper David Marshall as Liverpool take control of the game

Rising to the top: Skrtel powers Phillipe Coutinho's corner beyond Cardiff keeper David Marshall as Liverpool take control of the game

Flying high: Suarez blasted Liverpool into a position of preponderance with his second goal of the game

Flying high: Suarez blasted Liverpool into a position of preponderance with his second goal of the game

Five star: Sturridge made it 5-2 as Liverpool continued to make their attacking intentions clear

Five star: Sturridge made it 5-2 as Liverpool continued to make their attacking intentions clear

Six shooters: Suarez completed the rout, completing the scoring - and his hat-trick - from close range

Six shooters: Suarez completed the rout, completing the scoring - and his hat-trick - from close range

Another one for the collectionl: Suarez plucks the match ball from referee Neil Swarbrick after his three-goal salvo

Another one for the collectionl: Suarez plucks the match ball from referee Neil Swarbrick after his three-goal salvo

Unstoppable: Suarez has now hit 28 goals this season

Unstoppable: Suarez has now hit 28 goals this season

Pray for Cardiff: Vincent Tan sees his club three points short of safety with seven games to play

Pray for Cardiff: Vincent Tan sees his club three points short of safety with seven games to play

Match facts

Cardiff: Marshall 6, Theophile-Catherine 6, Caulker 6, Cala 5, John 6 (Daehli 65mins 5), Da Silva 4, Medel 6, Kim 5 (Zaha 65mins 5), Bellamy 6 (Jones 70mins 4), Mutch 7, Campbell 7 Subs not used: Turner, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Lewis.

Booked: Cala, Fabio.

Goals: Mutch 9, Campbell 25.

Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Agger 6, Flanagan 6 (Cissokho 70mins 6) Gerrard 7, Henderson 7, Allen 6, Coutinho 7 (Sterling 68mins), Sturridge 6.5 (Sakho 90mins), Suarez 9. Subs not used: Brad Jones, Aspas, Moses, Lucas.

Booked: Gerrard, Skrtel, Allen.

Goals: Suarez (16, 60, 90), Skrtel (41,53), Sturridge 75.

Attendance: 28,018.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick 7.

Man of the match: Luis Suarez

*Ratings by DOMINIC KING at the City of Cardiff Stadium


He saw his young, pleading teammate Raheem Sterling would have an easy finish but instead took on Marshall himself. You cannot turn ruthlessness like that on and off.

That goal capped a third successive away victory which keeps Liverpool in second place, four points behind leaders Chelsea with Manchester City close behind.

The Liverpool fans marched away from Cardiff City Stadium singing ‘we’re going to win the league.’
Brendan Rodgers encouraged their optimism but remained coy.

‘We’ve now got five games at home and three away. Anfield is a special place. Fans can believe and dream and that’s important. They have every right to’

There were, Rodgers conceded, weaknesses in the Liverpool defence particularly in the first half when they twice went behind.

‘We gave the ball away cheaply once or twice,’ he said, ‘and we’re not the sort of side that just rely on outscoring. We’re balanced. At half time, I reinforced that and we showed great resilience and offensive power.’

The standout moment in the match came in the 59th minute when Sturridge played a back-heel pass, demonstrating an almost telepathic awareness of Suarez’s whereabouts.

Luis Suarez gave Cardiff many headaches throughout the afternoon... check out his heat map and all the brilliant stats from our Match Zone

Luis Suarez

Martin Skrtel popped up twice in Cardiff's box in Liverpool's win... check out his heat map and all the brilliant stats from our Match Zone

Martin Skrtel
False dawn: Jordon Mutch fired Cardiff ahead early, but his strike was in vain

False dawn: Jordon Mutch fired Cardiff ahead early, but his strike was in vain

Fighting spirit: Fraizer Campbell struck to put Cardiff 2-1 up, but Liverpool were too strong, taking three points back to Anfield

Fighting spirit: Fraizer Campbell struck to put Cardiff 2-1 up, but Liverpool were too strong, taking three points back to Anfield

 

Season at glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3

The pair have a spiky relationship on the pitch but Suarez warmly embraced Sturridge and repaid the favour minutes later. Steven Caulker misdirected a header which Suarez pounced on, delivering a neat pass into the box for 24-year old Sturridge to slot home.

Much of the attention before the match centred on Sturridge and the key role he has played in igniting Liverpool’s title charge.

But it was fellow young Englishman Jordon Mutch who was first to make his mark, putting the Bluebirds ahead in the ninth minute. Fraizer Campbell demonstrated good strength to wrestle the ball from Joe Allen and pass to Mutch, who controlled the ball with one touch and with his left foot swept the ball into the back of the net from just inside the area.

Liverpool’s equaliser embodied all that is best about the confidence and attacking verve that Rodgers has instilled in this team.

A finely weighted Jordan Henderson ball found Glen Johnson who squared off to Luis Suarez who scored with Liverpool's first meaningful attack of the game.

A lapse of concentration from Daniel Agger allowed Cardiff to reassert their lead on 25 minutes.

Campbell took the ball round the napping Denmark defender and put the ball past Simon Mignolet, a goal which was greeted with a triumphant double thumbs up from divisive Chairman Vincent Tan in the stands.

Philippe Coutinho was abuzz with energy and industry throughout the game and his arching cross found Martin Skrtel who darted through a cluster of red shirts, stretched with every sinew to get his foot on the ball and equalise again. 

Nodding home: Mutch heads his second of the afternoon as Skrtel looks on

Nodding home: Mutch heads his second of the afternoon as Skrtel looks on

Red mist: Cardiff fans display their displeasure at owner Vincent Tan's choice of kit colour

Red mist: Cardiff fans display their displeasure at owner Vincent Tan's choice of kit colour

DISTANCE COVERED STATS

                             MINS PLD     KM      MILES

Cardiff - total                         116.1     72.2

Jordon Mutch             90           11.7       7.3
Gary Medel                90           11.4       7.1
Fraizer Campbell        90           11.3       7.0

Liverpool - total                     115.1     71.5

Joe Allen                     90           12.5       7.8
Jordan Henderson       90           11.8       7.3
Glen Johnson              90           11.2        6.9

EA SPORTS

  • Data courtesy of EA SPORTS, Official Sports Technology Partner of the Premier League

The Slovak defender also scored Liverpool’s third goal on the 53rd minute from a corner which came following two thwarted Suarez shots.

It was controversial in that Cardiff only had nine players on the pitch and no man on either post with Mutch and Kevin Theophile- Catherine both off the pitch after receiving medical treatment.

‘I don’t want to sound like a old grumpy man but the rule needs to be looked at,’ said Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,

‘I said to the fourth official beforehand that they’d score. My two biggest men were off the pitch.’

Mutch, who was unfortunate to be on the losing side, scored a consolation goal for the home side on the 88th minute.

The 22-year-old headed past Mignolet after a headed Kenwyne Jones pass found him in the centre of the box.

In control: Suarez attemtps to keep possession despite pressure from a raft of Cardiff players

In control: Suarez attemtps to keep possession despite pressure from a raft of Cardiff players

All eyes on the ball: Kenwyne Jones makes a nuisance of himself as Aly Cissokho, Simon Mignolet and Martin Skrtel attempt to clear

All eyes on the ball: Kenwyne Jones makes a nuisance of himself as Aly Cissokho, Simon Mignolet and Martin Skrtel attempt to clear

Down at heart: Cardiff's Fraizer, Craig Bellamy and Mutch look dejected during a chastening afernoon

Down at heart: Cardiff's Fraizer, Craig Bellamy and Mutch look dejected during a chastening afernoon

Harsh reality: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer applauds his team but knows results must improve - and fast

Harsh reality: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer applauds his team but knows results must improve - and fast

Cardiff slipped to second bottom in the table, three points from safety.

A folorn Solskjaer paid tribute to Suarez. ‘He’s brave, a warrior, an optimist who makes runs and gives players behind him options. He’s an unbelievable striker, a top player.’

The struggling Norwegian must wish he could call on him.

 

More...

Comments (385)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

How on earth did Gerrard stay on the pitch after clattering Declan John whilst on a yellow? One rule for the big boys and one rule for the rest yet again!

1
0
 Click to rate

Liverpool seem to be getting the benefit of a lot of refereeing decisions and yesterday was a good example of that. Gerrard, already on a yellow commited a clear yellow card offence with his challenge on Declan John. The ref bottled the red card decision, because of who it was maybe? For Liverpool's crucial 2nd equaliser Cardiff had TWO men off the field for the corner and the ref wouldn't let them back on! You cerainly get the breaks when you're at the top and vice versa when scrapping for your lives!

0
0
 Click to rate

We take it as compliment with all the Salford united fans coming on commenting, Nice to see you worried about us getting back on our perch.

0
3
 Click to rate

If Liverpool achieve the extraordinary and win the title this year it will almost certainly hinge on the blistering form of Luis Suarez..... One factor admittedly, but their players have also had the benefit of playing far less matches.

2
0
 Click to rate

LFC London - three o'clock kick-offs are never on TV, haven't you worked that out yet?

0
1
 Click to rate

liverpoodles are C H 1 T E.

8
0
 Click to rate

Liverpool should have there CL place confirmed by Saturday. Two more wins wins will leave them with over 70 points. Unbelievable season from them. European teams will fear them next season. Big time.

1
9
 Click to rate

Jason Cundy just said what we all know already. Dirtypool

16
0
 Click to rate

Bye bye Tan. 'There'll be bluebirds back over the white cliffs of Dover' back to Tan land. Taxi for Gunner too.

2
2
 Click to rate

I see some idiot is using my nickname and slating my beloved Liverpool FC, the Phoenix is rising from the ashes beware man utd your doomed to remain in OUR shadow

1
14
 Click to rate

That shed you call a ground should be reduced to ashes you mean surley?

9
0
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now