A hat-trick from Luis Suarez helped Liverpool to record a 6-3 victory from their trip to Cardiff City in the Premier League this afternoon.

The hosts twice took the lead in the first half through Fraizer Campbell and Jordan Mutch, but Liverpool responded through Suarez and Skrtel.

Suarez completed his trio of goals during the second half, while a second from Skrtel and a strike from Daniel Sturridge rendered Mutch's late effort for Cardiff as a consolation.

Below, Sports Mole has looked back over the contest to determine if the result was a fair one.

Match statistics

Cardiff
Shots: 9
On target: 3
Possession: 33%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 14

Liverpool
Shots: 19
On target: 9
Possession: 67%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 11

Was the result fair?

There was little to separate the two teams at the break and the scoreline suggested as much. However, during the second half, Liverpool's attacking players took centre stage and, although Cardiff ensured a slightly nervy finish by scoring late on, from the 46th minute onwards there only ever looked like there was going to be one winner - Liverpool.

Cardiff's performance

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team were unfortunate to lose against Everton last week, but they were the makers of their own downfall today. Although Liverpool have some dangerous players, they were presented the majority of their goals by some slack defending. You can't afford to make that number of mistakes in the Premier League and expect to get away with it. On the plus side, during the first half in particular Campbell looked extremely lively, as did Mutch. What's more, Cardiff's fate will not be decided from matches like this one - it's how they do against the teams around them that will determine which league they are in next season.

Liverpool's performance

If ever there was a display that summed up Liverpool's season, this was it. Although it took them a little while to get going, the passing between their attacking players was slick and during the second half they seemed to carve open the Cardiff defence at will. However, the Reds will hardly fill their supporters with confidence defensively. It's hard to put a finger on the exact reasoning behind it, but even a struggling side like today's hosts created a handful of chances. With the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City to come over the coming weeks, they will need to tighten up.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Luis Suarez: Anybody who scores a hat-trick is nine times out of 10 a certainty for this award. There was a part of 2014 where Suarez struggled for goals, but he showed today that the clinical touch is back with him with a trio of strikes to sink Cardiff.

Biggest gaffe

Although the Cardiff defence were poor for virtually all of Liverpool's six goals, it was the way that they dealt with Liverpool's third goal that was the most harrowing for Solskjaer. Skrtel had already shown his prowess in front of goal by scoring during the first half, but they left him unmarked inside the area shortly after the restart and he took full advantage by heading his side into a 3-2 lead.

Referee performance

Some referees may have dismissed Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard for two bookable offences during the first half, but that aside, it was a quiet afternoon's work for Neil Swarbrick. There wasn't a bad tackle in the game, but to be fair to Swarbrick, he didn't go looking for any unnecessary trouble.

What next?

Cardiff: Next Saturday the Bluebirds will travel to fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Liverpool: As for Liverpool, they are in action on Wednesday evening when Sunderland make the trip to Anfield.