Liverpool have closed the gap on local rivals Everton with a 3-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road this afternoon.

The Reds took the lead after 25 minutes when Steven Gerrard caught David Fox in possession before slipping the ball through to Luis Suarez who fired his shot across John Ruddy and inside the far post.

Suarez doubled his and Liverpool's tally just four minutes later when he dispossessed Elliott Ward before driving forward and slipping the ball past Ruddy once again.

Norwich showed more fight at the start of the second half, coming close through Elliott Bennett's 20-yard strike that forced a save from Jose Reina. Bradley Johnson flicked a header just wide from the resulting corner.

Liverpool immediately responded when Suarez's deflected shot was met by the head of Jonjo Shelvey, only for the Liverpool man to see his effort bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Shelvey came close again minutes later when he slid in to meet Jose Enrique's cross, but he could only divert it upwards rather than into the Norwich goal.

The visitors continued to pour forward, coming close through a Stewart Downing effort before Suarez beat a defender only to lift the ball over Ruddy and the bar.

The Canaries had chances of their own, most notably through James Vaughan who first came close with an effort on the turn before beating Carragher to the ball, only to head wide.

Suarez finally killed the game off with just over five minutes to go when he once again stole the ball of Ward before floating a shot from at least 45 yards over Ruddy to complete his hat-trick.

The result means that Liverpool move to within two points of local rivals Everton in the Premier League table, while Norwich remain 13th.