Liverpool have maintained their Premier League title challenge with a 6-3 win against Cardiff City away from home.
Cardiff started well, with Fraizer Campbell pushing on before being fouled by Steven Gerrard. Kevin Theopile-Catherine also fired over the crossbar after Campbell had directed a deep corner back into the box.
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The home side soon took the lead, however. Sloppy play from Liverpool gave the ball to Campbell, who then passed it to Jordon Mutch on the edge of the area. Gerrard tried to block his route to goal, but the Cardiff midfielder drilled a low shot beyond Simon Mignolet.
The away side struggled to find a response, but stunned their opponents with a goal out of nothing. Jordan Henderson played in Glen Johnson and, after the defender assessed his options, he picked out Luis Suarez, who then rolled in his 26th goal of the season.
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The Bluebirds restored their advantage when Campbell, having jinked past Daniel Agger and John Flanagan, curled the ball beyond the dive of Mignolet.
Liverpool equalised for a second time when Skrtel showed determination to prod the ball in from close range.
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Brendan Rodgers's team took advantage of some poor Cardiff defending early in the second half to complete their comeback and go ahead for the first time in the match.
Skrtel was left unmarked to head in from a Philippe Coutinho corner, and then Suarez connected with Daniel Sturridge's back-heel with a powerful effort into the bottom corner.
It was five with 15 minutes left to play when Sturridge slotted in from six yards after collecting a drilled pass from Suarez.
Cardiff weren't finished, however, and Kenwyne Jones nodded to Mutch, who then powered a header past Mignolet.
There was just enough time for Suarez to seal his hat-trick with a composed finish past David Marshall.
Gary Peters
