28th April 2012
NORWICH CITY (0) 0
LIVERPOOL (2) 3 (Suarez 24, 28, 82)
NORWICH CITY: Ruddy; Naughton, Ward, Drury (Martin), R.Bennett; Howson, E.Bennett, Pilkington, Fox (Vaughan); B.Johnson, Morison (Holt)
LIVERPOOL: Reina; G.Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Henderson, Gerrard (Coates), Shelvey, Downing; Bellamy, Suarez (Kuyt)
Two weeks before this fixture Liverpool had come from behind to beat Everton in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley. They followed that with a frustrating 0-1 defeat at home to West Brom and were lying 8th in the table. Norwich were down in 13th but a comfortable 10pts above the drop-zone.
This game will be remembered for the performance of one man, Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan was on fire and looked unstoppable. Midway through the first half Norwich knocked the ball around at the back when Steven Gerrard pounced on a short pass to Fox and sent Suarez clear. Suarez fired a fierce left-foot shot giving Ruddy no chance. Barely four minutes later and Suarez was at it again, nicking the ball on the right and as he powered his way into the area support appeared to his left, but Suarez fired a low shot right into the far corner and he had a double in quick time.
Liverpool lead 2-0 at the break and were good value for their lead. Liverpool’s lead was rarely threatened during the second half but for all Suarez brilliance in the first two strikes, everything paled into insignificance with the third goal. The ball was down near the bye-line in the Liverpool area when Johnson played the ball up field where Suarez was marked by Elliott Bennett. Suarez got there first, with Bennett putting in a weak challenge. Suarez crossed the halfway and then barely 10 yards into the Norwich half he floated the ball outrageously over Ruddy and into the net for a stunning goal to complete his hat-trick. It was his first hat-trick for the club and a performance many of us have come to expect from him since.
Liverpool ended the season in 8th although they lifted the Carling Cup and were runners-up in the FA Cup. Norwich finished in 12th.