Luis Suarez scored his third hat-trick against Norwich City and added a fourth goal on the night for good measure as the Uruguayan stole the show at Anfield.
Arsenal maintained their six point lead at the top with a comfortable win over Hull city, Chelsea remained third after seven goals at the Stadium of Light, but Suarez’s performance was sure to dominate the back pages tomorrow until, that is, Everton’s Bryan Oviedo scored an 86th minute winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Having twice registered three against the Canaries before tonight, Suarez took 34 minutes to do so again, with a 40-yard opportunistic strike opening his account, before a well-worked corner allowed him to prod home from close range and a stunning solo effort saw him flick the ball nonchalantly over the head of a defender before rifling his shot into the bottom corner past the bewildered John Ruddy.
His fourth was a world class free-kick into the top corner after Steven Gerrard was fouled in the 74th minute.
Bradley Johnson headed a consolation for Norwich with seven minutes remaining, before Suarez laid on a fifth, this time allowing Raheem Sterling to get in on the act.
At Old Trafford, where David Moyes came up against his old team, it couldn’t have gone much worse for the Scot, as Everton pilfered three points at the death to stay fifth, level on points with their Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
Costa Rica defender Oviedo, in the side in place of the injured Leighton Baines, arrived unmarked at the far post to convert Romelu Lukaku’s cross-shot in the 86th minute of an absorbing end-to-end contest.
It was a miserable first meeting with his former club for Moyes, who saw his side suffer a first defeat in 13 games in all competitions as they fell 12 points behind Arsenal. Wayne Rooney hit the base of the post with a deflected effort in the first half before Tim Howard made a stunning stop from Patrice Evra with Danny Welbeck heading the rebound against the bar in the second.
But Roberto Martinez’s Everton defended resolutely throughout and snatched the points with time running out moments after Kevin Mirallas had rattled De Gea’s right-hand upright with a swerving free-kick from just outside the box.
Regardless, both Merseyside teams remain seven points behind league leaders Arsenal, who had Nicklas Bendtner, of all people, and Mesut Özil to thank for their win over the Tigers.
John O’Shea was on target for Sunderland but Chelsea edged a seven-goal game at the Stadium of Light to stay second, four points adrift.
Jozy Altidore gave the homeside the lead before Frank Lampard equalised and Eden Hazard scored for Chelsea.
O’Shea levelled five minutes after the restart but Hazard got his second in the 62nd minute and a Phil Bardsley own-goal effectively sealed the result for Chelsea in the 84th, before the full-back got one back moments later.
In a game that started 15 minutes late due to traffic congestion, Yaya Touré’s brace followed an early opener from Sergio Aguero and saw City cruising at 3-0.
They had to survive a late scare as West Brom pulled two goals back in the final five minutes through Costel Pantilimon’s own goal and a Victor Anichebe’s strike but City remained third.
André Villas-Boas very nearly had a night to forget after Ashkan Dejagah threatened to open René Meulensteen’s tenure with a win, but Vlad Chiriches and Lewis Holtby spared Tottenham’s blushes.
Southampton’s recent struggles continued as they slumped to a third successive loss after going down 3-2 at home to Aston
Villa. Saints twice equalised, Jay Rodriguez (48) and Pablo Osvaldo (69) cancelling out efforts from Gabriel Agbonlahor (15) and Libor Kozak (64), but Villa would not be denied as Fabien Delph slotted home an 80th-minute winner.
In Wednesday’s other games, Swansea beat Newcastle 3-0 with goals from Nathan Dyer (45), a Mathieu Debuchy own goal (66) and Jonjo Shelvey (81) while Stoke and Cardiff shared a goalless draw.
