Brendan Rodgers labelled Liverpool "a quiet team" after defeat at Manchester United and they responded with a minimum of fuss to dismantle Norwich City at Anfield. The excellent Jordan Henderson, Luis Suárez, Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard and an own goal from Ryan Bennett inflicted a second comprehensive defeat of the season on Chris Hughton's team.
Norwich, beaten 5-2 by Liverpool at Carrow Road in September, arrived on Merseyside without a win in five league games and a long shift towards the sixth beckoned the moment Henderson swept an excellent finish beyond Mark Bunn from 20 yards.
Grant Holt and Jonathan Howson were never give the time, space or support in the visiting attack to suggest there was a route back against a thoroughly dominant home display.
The breakthrough lifted a subdued start to the contest and atmosphere. It also added a highlight to the impressive recent improvement of Henderson, who was unfortunate to lose his starting place to Joe Allen at Old Trafford last Sunday. Norwich appeared to have dealt with the nuisance of Suárez when Elliott Bennett slid in to relieve the striker of possession on the edge of the area but, reacting first to the loose ball, Henderson turned and drove a venomous shot past Bunn. His joyous reaction was justified.
Liverpool made the points safe nine minutes before the break when Suárez scored his seventh goal in three appearances against Norwich. It arrived courtesy of another telling contribution from £12m signing Daniel Sturridge, who dummied a through ball from Lucas Leiva to leave Michael Turner on his backside and his strike partner through on goal. Norwich must have feared the worst given Suárez's record against them and with good reason as he converted a low left-foot finish into the far corner.
The second half saw Liverpool prise open the Norwich defence at will and Sturridge recorded an early milestone in his Anfield career when he tapped in from close range following good work by Henderson and Stewart Downing. His finish, with Norwich appealing in vain for offside, marked the first time a Liverpool player had scored in his first three appearances for the club since Ray Kennedy in 1974.
Steven Gerrard then dispatched a trademark shot from more than 25 yards into the bottom corner after a good run off the left by Glen Johnson, who also released the substitute Raheem Sterling for the fifth. Sterling flicked the ball over the hapless Turner and, though his effort beat Bunn, the final touch came from the out-stretched boot of Ryan Bennett.
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