<p>Luis Suarez struck a clinical hat-trick as Liverpool thrashed West Bromwich Albion 4-1 at Anfield to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Suarez scored twice in five first-half minutes and again after the break as Liverpool remained two points behind Arsenal who prevailed 2-0 at Crystal Palace in an early kickoff despite having goalscorer Mikel Arteta sent off.<br /><br />Dark clouds were gathering over Old Trafford where champions Manchester United twice trailed Stoke City before late goals by Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez earned them a 3-2 victory, staving off a fourth league defeat of the season.<br /><br />Romelu Lukaku was on target again for Everton as they moved into third place, four behind Arsenal, with a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa. Norwich City drew 0-0 at home to Cardiff City and remain in the relegation zone.<br /><br />Palace, who parted company with manager Ian Holloway on Wednesday after losing seven of their first eight matches of the season, had few opportunities even when Arteta was red-carded on 65 minutes for a foul on former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh.<br /><br /><br />Joel Ward came closest for Palace when he struck the crossbar but Olivier Giroud settled any Arsenal jitters with a headed second goal late on.<br /><br />“These are the kind of games where you need the points, we were mature, resilient, well-organised and in the end we got the second goal which was a relief,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.<br /><br />“I thought honestly we were unlucky to be down to 10 men and needed to be patient.”<br />Wenger was measured in his criticism of the decision by referee Chris Foy to dismiss Arteta for a foul on Marouane Chamakh who seemed about to burst clear from deep.<br /><br />“You never know but there was pressure on the referee to pull a red card out,” said Wenger, whose side are unbeaten in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, winning seven of eight.<br /><br />“I think it was a wrong decision because it is supposed to be a clear goal scoring opportunity and it was very far from goal and it has to be the last man, which was not proven.”<br /><br />Wenger praised Poland international Szczseny, saying he had stepped up a level since last season. “You see the quality of a keeper with the timing of his saves,” Wenger said. <br /><br />“That was two important moments of the game. He is more consistent this season, better focus and he reads the game better.”<br /></p>
<p>Luis Suarez struck a clinical hat-trick as Liverpool thrashed West Bromwich Albion 4-1 at Anfield to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Suarez scored twice in five first-half minutes and again after the break as Liverpool remained two points behind Arsenal who prevailed 2-0 at Crystal Palace in an early kickoff despite having goalscorer Mikel Arteta sent off.<br /><br />Dark clouds were gathering over Old Trafford where champions Manchester United twice trailed Stoke City before late goals by Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez earned them a 3-2 victory, staving off a fourth league defeat of the season.<br /><br />Romelu Lukaku was on target again for Everton as they moved into third place, four behind Arsenal, with a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa. Norwich City drew 0-0 at home to Cardiff City and remain in the relegation zone.<br /><br />Palace, who parted company with manager Ian Holloway on Wednesday after losing seven of their first eight matches of the season, had few opportunities even when Arteta was red-carded on 65 minutes for a foul on former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh.<br /><br /><br />Joel Ward came closest for Palace when he struck the crossbar but Olivier Giroud settled any Arsenal jitters with a headed second goal late on.<br /><br />“These are the kind of games where you need the points, we were mature, resilient, well-organised and in the end we got the second goal which was a relief,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.<br /><br />“I thought honestly we were unlucky to be down to 10 men and needed to be patient.”<br />Wenger was measured in his criticism of the decision by referee Chris Foy to dismiss Arteta for a foul on Marouane Chamakh who seemed about to burst clear from deep.<br /><br />“You never know but there was pressure on the referee to pull a red card out,” said Wenger, whose side are unbeaten in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, winning seven of eight.<br /><br />“I think it was a wrong decision because it is supposed to be a clear goal scoring opportunity and it was very far from goal and it has to be the last man, which was not proven.”<br /><br />Wenger praised Poland international Szczseny, saying he had stepped up a level since last season. “You see the quality of a keeper with the timing of his saves,” Wenger said. <br /><br />“That was two important moments of the game. He is more consistent this season, better focus and he reads the game better.”<br /></p>