Liverpool striker Luis Suarez showed just why he
is prized and feared in equal amounts with an impressive
all-round performance as he guided the Reds to a home
victory over QPR.
• Jolly: Suarez steals the show
• Dalglish impressed with Suarez display
The Uruguay international, who has been in the headlines
for the wrong reasons during a two-month lean spell
in front of goal, was at his threatening best as he
scored his first goal in the Premier League since October
1.
His header ended a run of four successive draws at
Anfield and helped repair some of the damage done to
his reputation in recent weeks.
Suarez had been the main topic of conversation pre-match
- having received his second Football Association misconduct
charge of the season earlier in week for allegedly making
an offensive gesture to Fulham fans - but it was another
instrumental display on the field which was the talking
point afterwards.
The 24-year-old has found himself targeted by opposition
players and fans alike who believe the South American
goes to ground far too easily.
Early signs at Anfield were that QPR were not going
to dish out the sort of harsh treatment that had prompted
Reds manager Kenny Dalglish to produce video clips in
a determined defence of his striker at his press conference
on Thursday.
Suarez, who is also facing a racism-related charge
dating back to mid-October, should have taken advantage
in the 10th minute from Stewart Downing's right-wing
cross but he headed straight at Radek Cerny from 10
yards.
It set the tone for the rest of the half as he then
somehow squeezed a shot from a narrow angle between
the goalkeeper and his left-hand post which eventually
went out for a throw before skewing wide with the outside
of his right foot when it looked easier to go with his
left.
Having dominated at home against the other promoted
teams Norwich and Swansea - which both finished in draws
after missing a number of chances - a familiar pattern
was developing for Liverpool.
In the 31st minute Dirk Kuyt put Maxi Rodriguez through
in the inside-left channel and his low shot across Cerny
was destined for the far corner of the net until the
goalkeeper fingertipped it behind.
A driving run from Downing set up another Suarez chance
but his attempted close-range lob was clawed away by
Cerny and the Uruguay international blazed over the
rebound.
It took Liverpool just two minutes to put the frustrations
of the first half behind them when they returned after
the interval.
Charlie Adam's left-wing corner was cleared back to
him and his right-footed cross picked out the unmarked
Suarez who easily headed past Cerny from five yards.
It was the Uruguayan's first goal since getting two
in the Carling Cup in late October and his first in
the Premier League since the Merseyside derby on October
1.
The situation worsened for QPR when Anton Ferdinand
sustained a hamstring injury and had to be replaced
by Bradley Orr.
Suarez continued to be Liverpool's main threat in the
final third and when he pulled the ball back for Rodriguez
to shoot only a great one-handed save low to his left
by Cerny prevented a second all-important goal.
Rodriguez should have scored after a brilliant interchange
with Suarez in the area but he wastefully shot straight
at the goalkeeper.
Liverpool continued to dominate but QPR were always
capable of nicking a goal and they almost did when Danny
Gabbidon, five yards out, diverted over Joey Barton's
inswinging free-kick.
Neil Warnock's side enjoyed their best spell in the
closing 20 minutes but the hosts still looked the most
likely to score again as substitute Craig Bellamy curled
a free-kick into the side-netting.
QPR felt they should have had a penalty late on when
Alejandro Faurlin went down under Martin Skrtel's challenge
but referee Lee Mason saw nothing wrong.
In the last action of the game Shaun Wright-Phillips
deflected Bellamy's cross on to the bar but, unlike
in recent weeks, one goal proved to be enough as Liverpool
moved up to sixth in the table.
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