Rodgers hails strike partnership

20 January 2013 09:17

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased to see the burgeoning partnership between forwards Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge develop further in the 5-0 demolition of Norwich.

Suarez took his tally to 20 for the season with the Reds' second - courtesy of a clever dummy by his strike partner - after Jordan Henderson's smart shot had opened the scoring. Sturridge, a £12million signing from Chelsea earlier this month, then became the first Liverpool player since Ray Kennedy in 1974 to score in his first three matches.

"I couldn't have asked for more. The players were brilliant in their application and their game and it was a great performance," said Rodgers.

"They (Suarez and Sturridge) linked very well, obviously both got on the scoresheet, which was great. Luis has done what he has done for us all season, given us 100% every game, and he combined well with Daniel up front.

"I think it gives the opponent someone else to worry about. Suarez has been incredible for us but you now have a recognised goalscorer up beside him.

"We had real fluidity with our play at the top end of the field. Daniel has pace and power but he is also clever and that was important as Norwich are tough to break down and a tough team to play against. The second goal was a wonderful demonstration of how good players can link together."

While Suarez and Sturridge caught the eye, the steadily-improving Henderson put in another good performance in what has been a good period for him. And registering a third successive home win allowed Liverpool to banish memories of last week's defeat against Manchester United.

"We needed to find that goal early on and it was a terrific piece of play by Luis Suarez, who wriggled his way in and around the edge of the box and when the ball dropped to Jordan what a strike it was," Rodgers added.

Norwich boss Chris Hughton admitted his side, who have taken just one point from their last six matches, fell well short of what was required.

"At this moment it is not a good feeling," he said. "We were beaten by a very good side who were very clinical in everything they did. We weren't good enough and we have to be better than that. We were nowhere near as good as we could have been."

Source: PA