19 January2013 19 Date: 19 January 2013 BBC Mirror Sunday Times Sun Telegraph Independent Opposition: Norwich City Mail Observer Times Telegraph Competition: League Echo Sun Independent Guardian Norwich Eve.News "But credit Luis because he's got to produce the movement and he's got to finish the chances, and he has been unbelievable in that. You saw against Norwich, the Sturridge teams up with Suarez to offer clinical edge finish was clinical. "This is a model we are trying to develop and create ,which is about fluidity and Liverpool 5 Henderson 26, Suarez 36, Sturridge 59, Gerrard 65, R Bennett 74 (og) mobility. When you have mobile players with intelligent movement, it shifts Norwich City 0 defenders and creates the sort of space that Luis thrives in." Referee M Oliver Attendance 44,901 RATINGS Of all the adjectives that have been used to describe Liverpool during a season of Liverpool (4-2-3-1): B Jones 6 -- A Wisdom 6, J Carragher 6, D Agger 6, G Johnson 7 consistent inconsistency, no one has accused them of being clinical. Ruthlessness -- Lucas 6 (sub: R Sterling, 69min 6), S Gerrard 9 -- S Downing 7, L Suarez 8, J has not been their forte, merely a seemingly unobtainable objective in a team Henderson 7 (sub: J Allen, 77) -- D Sturridge 8 (sub: F Borini, 69 6). Substitutes not flawed by their profligacy. used: P Gulacsi, J Shelvey, M Skrtel, J Robinson. Booked: Johnson. It may turn out that it was for one day only, but on Saturday that changed Norwich City (4-4-1-1): M Bunn 5 -- R Martin 5, M Turner 4, R Bennett 4, J Garrido as Liverpool recorded their biggest win of the season, against Norwich City. 4 -- R Snodgrass 5 (sub: A Pilkington, 86), A Tettey 5, B Johnson 5, E Bennett 4 "Liverpool were very clinical in their finishing, they were clinical in everything they (sub: W Hoolahan, 65 5) -- J Howson 4 -- G Holt 5. Substitutes not used: D Rudd, S did," Chris Hughton, the Norwich manager said, perhaps justifying his own team's Jackson, L Barnett, M Tierney, H Kane. Booked: Snodgrass. shortcomings as much as highlighting their opponents' precision. Five unanswered goals tend to have that effect, particularly when the goals have been shared out and the threat has not just been limited to one or two players. From being overly reliant on Luis Suarez for far too long, the arrival of Daniel Sturridge has given Liverpool's attack an instant effectiveness and variety that it Gerrard says it will take time but Rodgers will revive Liverpool had previously lacked. Gauging Liverpool's progress under Brendan Rodgers is an inexact science but Brendan Rodgers was not about to entertain concerns about whether this could there was substance to their haul against Norwich City. It took until the final turn out to be a one-off feast against feeble opponents. Instead, home game of last season, against a Chelsea team seemingly immersed in FA Cup the Liverpool manager saw only possibilities. He highlighted the surge in celebrations, for Liverpool to record six league wins at Anfield. They reached the confidence that helped Jordan Henderson to strike a beautiful volley to open the half-dozen on Saturday with an authority that reinforced their erratic nature scoring. He marvelled at the telepathy that allowed Suarez to race on to Lucas under Kenny Dalglish's successor. Leiva's pass and score after Sturridge had dummied intelligently. There are, however, signs that Rodgers is getting it right and their captain, Steven He welcomed the tap-in that brought Sturridge his third goal in three matches Gerrard, thinks so. "He's certainly got the backing of the owners," he said. "I think since joining from Chelsea, eulogised the enduring brilliance of Steven Gerrard, the appointment, giving him the job after Kenny, was a sign that he's going to be whose strike from 25 yards gave Liverpool a fourth goal, and celebrated the slice here for a while. I think he'll be given time to put his philosophy out there. of luck that allowed his team to add a fifth when Ryan Bennett scored a "It's not going to happen overnight, it is going to take time and we've been a little calamitous own goal in front of the Kop. bit inconsistent this season. But I think the majority of the games we've shown to Had Norwich shown any resistance whatsoever, it would be easier to draw more the supporters and to the neutrals out there that we're playing the right way. positive conclusions about aLiverpool side who are showing increasing signs of Given time, and a little bit more backing - maybe a few more players - I think it playing in the style expected by Rodgers, regardless of their recent setback at Old will work really well under him. I'm really happy with his appointment and how Trafford. it's going so far." Whatever the Norwich fans paid to watch their team fail to perform was too Aston Villa apart, Liverpool have often contemptuously dismissed teams in the much, particularly given the appalling weather conditions that made the long trip bottom half of the Premier League this term and once Jordan Henderson awoke a even more arduous than normal. frozen Anfield with an opening goal as impressive as his overall performance There is mounting concern that they could still be dragged into a relegation battle Norwich were to be no exception. Victory over a team in the top 10 remains that they had seemed set to avoid. Hughton believes that attacking elusive forLiverpool but before trips to Arsenal and Manchester City the morale- reinforcements would improve Norwich's survival chances immeasurably and sapping defeat at Manchester United was erased in emphatic style. they have had offers rejected by Celtic and Swansea City for Gary Hooper and Henderson began the rout with an unstoppable finish past Mark Bunn. Norwich's Danny Graham respectively. tormentor-in-chief, Luis Suarez, scored his seventh goal in three games against He also has faith, however, that Norwich possess enough quality within their own them following an exquisite dummy from his new partner Daniel Sturridge, who ranks to survive. "The players have certainly shown that we're capable of getting then, with a tap-in from Stewart Downing's cross, became the enough results and getting enough points," he said. "We're on a bad run and it's first Liverpoolplayer since Ray Kennedy in 1974 to score in his first three about the players showing enough belief and quality to get back to winning ways. appearances for the club. "We want to bring in new players, but I think people don't understand how Gerrard marked a commanding performance from central midfield - "he used difficult it is. I see Queens Park Rangers spending big money and bringing in [Loic] every club in his bag today," remarked Rodgers - with a trademark finish from Remy and that's where they are. And that's what they're able to do. There are a almost 30 yards before Ryan Bennett diverted the fifth and final Liverpool goal group of clubs that are able to do that. into his own net from Raheem Sterling's shot. "We have to do things our way.It's about trying to bring the right players in, but It was the combination of Suarez and Sturridge that offered Liverpool hope. Their it's never that easy." understanding vindicated Rodgers' belief that Suarez's influence would not wane Strike pairing works well, says new boy as a result of Sturridge occupying the central striking role. "He's a fighter," said TONY BARRETT Gerrard of Suarez. "He doesn't give up, every ball, no matter what the scoreline, Daniel Sturridge believes he has developed an instant understanding with Luis he doesn't give up and that's what you want in your team." Suarez in a partnership that Brendan Rodgers expects to bring out the best in The big worry for Liverpool now, as the captain admitted, is whether the both players. Uruguayan is minded to stay, just as the team settles into a system. "I know he's Both forwards scored in the 5-0 rout of Norwich City, the pair combining recently signed a long-term contract and I know he's comfortable and he's happy impressively on a number of occasions despite it being only the second game that here," said Gerrard. "But I think that's a question for Luis to answer. Only he they have been placed together since Sturridge joined Liverpoolfrom Chelsea in a knows what his ambitions and dreams are. [pounds sterling]12 million transfer. "I think he's gone on record recently and said that he's really happy and "Since I signed, we have been getting on well in training and against Manchester comfortable here, and hopefully we can put a fight on from now until the end of United last weekend it all clicked," Sturridge said. "We have an understanding the season to finish fourth, and we make the decision for him. But Luis Suarez already and it will get better. There is a lot more to come from us, as we are still deserves to be in the Champions League and I think everyone has to admit that." learning as a partnership. It could become as good as any other partnership, but it While Rodgers and Liverpool savoured the impact of a new pounds 12m signing is just about playing as a team." and Sturridge's promising partnership, the Norwich performance was a cause of Chris Hughton, the Norwich manager, said: "If you look at what Liverpool paid for understandable concern for the Norwich manager, Chris Hughton.