LONDON: Luis Suarez put the row over his diving admission behind him by scoring his seventh goal in three matches against Norwich to help Liverpool return to winning ways with a 5-0 win at Anfield.
The Uruguayan faced the wrath of manager Brendan Rodgers in midweek after telling the media back home that he had dived to try to win a penalty earlier this season against Stoke.
Norwich were ideal next opponents for him since Suarez had scored hat-tricks in his previous two outings against them. He scored Liverpool’s second goal after Jordan Henderson had given the Reds the lead. New £12m forward Daniel Sturridge became the first Reds player since Ray Kennedy in 1974 to score in his first three matches before Steven Gerrard’s strike and Ryan Bennett’s own goal completed the rout.
Liverpool have scored 13 goals in their last three league games against Norwich.
Second-placed Manchester City narrowed the gap on leaders Manchester United, who play Tottenham on Sunday, to four points thanks to David Silva’s two goals against Fulham. The Spain midfielder opened the scoring in the second minute and made it 2-0 in the 69th.
Queens Park Rangers’ new signing Loic Remy took only 14 minutes of his debut to find the net but it was not enough to give the bottom side victory against West Ham who earned a 1-1 draw at Upton Park with a 68th-minute equaliser from Joe Cole. That was the former England forward’s first strike of his second stint at the club and was his first goal for the Hammers since January 2003.
Frenchman Remy chose Harry Redknapp’s side over Newcastle whose relegation worries increased as they were beaten 2-1 by Reading.
A Yohan Cabaye free-kick in the 35th minute put Newcastle ahead but Reading substitute Adam Le Fondre netted with his first touch in the 71st minute and won the game with his second goal six minutes later.
West Brom hit back
Aston Villa evaded a slip into the relegation zone after taking a point from a 2-2 draw in the west midlands derby against West Bromwich.
Christian Benteke (12) minutes and Gabriel Agbonlahor (31) put Villa two up at The Hawthorns but Chris Brunt pulled one back four minutes after half-time and Peter Odemwingie earned the Baggies a 2-2 draw seven minutes from time.
Wigan were fast out of the blocks, a soft own goal from David Vaughan putting them in front against Sunderland in only the fourth minute at the DW Stadium, but they were beaten 3-2 by the Black Cats.
Sunderland equalised through a penalty from Craig Gardner in the 17th minute after James McCarthy had handled a corner. Three minutes later they were ahead through Steven Fletcher’s volley and the striker added another three minutes before the break.
Wigan’s on-loan Manchester United teenager Angelo Henriquez scored his first goal in English football 11 minutes from time but it was only a consolation.
The game between Swansea and Stoke was the only match that was goalless at half-time – but it finished 3-1 in the home side’s favour.
Teenage full-back Ben Davies broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half to enhance his growing reputation with his first senior goal. Strikes from Jonathan De Guzman in the 57th and 80th minutes secured the points for the home side, with Michael Owen’s first goal for Stoke in injury time little consolation to the Potters.
** Chelsea’s England fullback Ashley Cole has agreed to extend his contract which had been due to expire at the end of the season.
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