Philippe Coutinho scored on his first Premier League start as Liverpool ended a five-game winless streak with a thumping 5-0 victory over Swansea at Anfield.
The Reds, who were facing a weakened Swansea side that had one eye on the Capital One Cup final, climbed within three points of Everton in seventh thanks to an array of top quality goals from Steven Gerrard, Coutinho, Jose Enrique, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
It was one-way traffic for 90 minutes as Brendan Rodgers welcomed his old side to Anfield, with Liverpool screaming in vain for a first-half penalty when Sturridge was brought down by Kyle Bartley.
Their next claim did lead to a spot- kick when Suarez was needlessly felled by Kemy Agustien, allowing Gerrard to succeed where he recently failed against West Brom by converting from 12 yards.
Coutinho then got in on the act 16 seconds into the second half as he latched onto Suarez's clever pass, drove at his marker, dropped a shoulder and beat the visiting keeper, who should have done better.
There was nothing Swansea could do about Liverpool's third - a contender for goal of the season, as Sturridge, Suarez and Coutinho all linked with Enrique, who backheeled to Sturridge before receiving a marvellous return pass to slam high into the roof of the net.
It was time for Suarez to net a deserved goal when he received Stewart Downing's pass in a central position, drifted past two defenders and opened his body to bend a lovely left-footer into the far corner. Sturridge then boosted his fine start to life on Merseyside, slotting Liverpool's second penalty after Wayne Routledge handled.
Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez & Daniel Sturridge star as Liverpool hit five | Football News | ESPN.co.uk
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