Liverpool outclass Palace to go top

05 October 2013 19:31

Liverpool's return to the top of the Premier League was confirmed by an impressive first-half performance which saw Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge steal the show in a 3-1 victory.

The pair had dispelled suggestions they were not entirely compatible as a front two with all the goals in the 3-1 win at Sunderland last week.

This was more of the same as they scored the Reds' first two, which were followed by a Steven Gerrard penalty for his 99th Premier League goal, in another 3-1 success.

It took the strike duo's tally when both on the pitch at the same time to 16 goals, averaging a goal less than every 70 minutes.

Individually their statistics are formidable, together they are devastating.

Suarez has 19 goals in his last 22 games, while Sturridge has 19 in 24 games since joining in January, including eight in nine matches this season.

Liverpool were up and running after 14 minutes when Victor Moses' cross-field run delivered the ball to Suarez who instinctively rolled it into the path of the overlapping Jose Enrique.

The Spaniard knew exactly what to do, getting to the byline and cutting back to Suarez, who improvised brilliantly as he fell to the ground under pressure from Jason Puncheon, hooking the ball home while on his way down on one knee.

Within three minutes Liverpool had doubled their lead, with Suarez and Enrique playing a minor part this time.

The Reds left-back tried to pick out the Uruguayan with a long pass out of defence and, with Adrian Mariappa coming out to challenge, the ball went over their heads and put Sturridge in one-on-one with Damien Delaney in the inside-left channel.

Source: PA