Sizzling Suarez

LIVERPOOL 3

(Luis Suarez 25,45, Raheem Sterling 42)

CARDIFF CITY 1

(Jordan Mutch 58)

As if Malky Mackay didn't have enough on his plate with Vincent Tan, he had to run into Luis Suarez as well.

The war between Cardiff's manager and owner is so advanced that even a win at Anfield wouldn't have saved him.

This defeat, brought on by an abject first half that a much improved second couldn't salvage, will serve as the perfect excuse for the execution.

Man-of-the-Match Suarez served as the axeman.

Over at the headquarters of the Oxford English Dictionary, a crack team of researchers is working night and day to find new words to describe Suarez's form.

The statistics are terrifying. He now has 19 Premier League goals to his name, a fine haul for a complete campaign, let alone for one that only began at the end of September and hasn't yet reached Christmas.

In 12 league games, Suarez has failed to score only three times.

Unfortunately for Mackay, this was not one of those times.

Liverpool, for a brief time at least, went to the top of the table with this win and with the news that Suarez has committed his future to the club, there's no reason why that should change.

The Uruguayan's presence brings multiple benefits, not just in his contributions on the pitch, but also with the message it sends to the rest of the game.

Liverpool have demonstrated that they are not a selling club. They are on their way back.

And yet you wouldn't have thought it in the opening stages.

The hosts struggled to get into the game at first, their flowing passing moves stopping abruptly when they crashed against Cardiff's defence.

But the Welsh side couldn't hold out for long.

When Suarez crashed home a volley after a delicious dink from Jordan Henderson in the 25th minute, their rearguard collapsed.

Organisation turned to anarchy, discipline was lost and Liverpool ran amok.

Suarez turned provider in the 42nd minute, running onto Henderson's pass and selflessly offering Raheem Sterling a simple finish.

Then, as the Cardiff players prayed for half-time, Suarez struck again, whipping a glorious third goal home from outside the penalty area after a smart backheel from Henderson.

Suarez will hog the headlines, but Henderson was just as crucial to this victory.

The former Sunderland man endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career, offering only tentative and nervy performances.

Those days are long gone. This season, and particularly in the absence of Steven Gerrard, Henderson has blossomed.

He sees passes where others can't and has the bravery to try them when others wouldn't.

As his confidence has grown, so has his importance to this team.

Gerrard, as incredible as it may seem, may struggle to get back into Brendan Rodgers' starting line-up.

RESISTANCE

Mackay's team did at least offer some resistance in the second half, snatching a consolation goal on the hour when Jordon Mutch headed Peter Whittingham's deep free-kick past Simon Mignolet.

From the ashes of the first half, came a hint of a recovery.

But it was not enough. Tan will surely act now.

Among the names mentioned as a replacement is Sven-Goran Eriksson, probably the only man desperate and undignified enough to work for him.

When Tan arrived at Anfield, he was met with angry shouts of, "Get out of our game!".

The fact that the shouts came from Liverpool supporters tells you all you need to know about the unanimity of feeling towards him in the game.

There was a similar consensus in the Cardiff end.

"Tan Out" read numerous banners. "We want our club back", read another. Those supporters have lost their blue shirts and soon they will lose their manager.

This isn't their club. This is Tan's plaything. And this is only the start of their misery.

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