Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Suarez and Sturridge fire Reds back to the top of the Premier League

A blistering first-half showing saw Suarez and Sturridge continue fine goalscoring runs, while also showing they are growing into a formidable partnership.

Suarez has scored 19 goals in his last 22 Liverpool games, while Sturridge has 19 in 25 games since joining the club in January.

The South American's performance, in particular, would have pleased former player and manager Kenny Dalglish, who signed Suarez in 2011 and joined the club's board as a non-executive director this week.

Defeat for Ian Holloway's Palace side was their fourth in succession, and leaves them two points ahead of bottom side Sunderland.

And given the potency of Liverpool's forwards, it was perhaps surprising Holloway picked an adventurous 4-3-3 formation in trying to repeat a famous Anfield win while in charge of Blackpool three years ago.

Suarez, playing at Anfield for the first time since biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, was the leading man, scoring the opener on 14 minutes.

After good work from Victor Moses, he passed to the overlapping Jose Enrique and then collected his return ball to fire in from 12 yards despite falling over.

It showed poise, balance and strength, and within three minutes Palace were further behind when Enrique's long pass was headed onto Sturridge, who turned Damien Delaney before netting.

Palace looked stunned but began to recover and Jimmy Kebe twice went close after a surging run.

His tame goalbound shot was cleared by Kolo Toure before Simon Mignolet saved superbly after the Malian touched Cameron Jerome's shot. Jason Puncheon then blazed over.

Home defender Mamadou Sakho then almost sliced into his own net following Jerome's cross as the visitors regained their composure.

But Holloway's side went further behind when Dean Moxey tugged at Raheem Sterling's arm and, although contact was on the edge of the penalty area, referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot after advice from his assistant.

Gerrard sent Julian Speroni the wrong way to score for the 15th consecutive league season, a club record.

Moses hit the bar from two yards out before the break but Liverpool's performance dipped after the interval.

Holloway tightened things up by bringing on another midfielder, Jose Campana, while Gayle replaced Jerome up front.

Palace improved as a result and when Gayle headed in Campana's free-kick with 14 minutes remaining, it looked like Liverpool might wobble.

It proved fleeting, however, and Sturridge almost grabbed a second when he hit the post late on.

-BBC