Liverpool sealed a 3-2 win at Norwich City to go five points clear at the top of the Barclay’s Premier League standings.
Raheem Sterling’s long-range shot helped place the visitors in the lead early on.
Luis Suarez scored his 30th goal of the ongoing campaign, but Garry Hooper capitalised on Simon Mignolet’s error to reduce the hosts’ deficit.
Sterling completed his brace with a deflected shot 2 minutes after the hour mark, while Robert Snodgrass’ header was worth a scare for the ‘Reds’, yet they closed out the encounter and moved farther away from second-placed Chelsea, who tasted a first home defeat under Jose Mourinho in 58 games against Sunderland on Saturday.
Mignolet was called into action in the frantic final minutes at Carrow Road, diving to save a Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s header from the centre of the box.
It is the Anfield club’s 11th successive league win, which confirms their place in next season’s Champions League, with three more matches to go- starting with Chelsea’s visit next Sunday.
Norwich, who are two points above the drop zone, suffered their sixth defeat in eight games.
Liverpool were well aware of the dangers of underestimating relegation battlers, and taking a cue from Manchester City’s midweek debacle against Sunderland and Chelsea’s home loss against the same side, got off in an emphatic fashion.
Sterling powered a shot from 22 yards, which took a slight deflection off defender Michael Turner, past keeper John Ruddy for the opener.
The English youngster turned provider as he bent a low right-wing ball into the part of Suarez, who sidefooted home neatly.
Norwich were back in the game when striker Hooper beat Mignolet to a Steven Whittaker cross and tapped in from eight yards.
Sterling restored Liverpool’s 2-goal cushion as his effort looped in from Bradley Johnson’s deflection.
Snodgrass headed in the ‘Canaries’s’ second in the 77th minute, but Liverpool fended off the hosts’ late effort for a leveler to claim victory.
