Liverpool took a huge step toward winning their first league title in over two decades on Sunday, dispatching Norwich City 3-2 behind impressive performances from Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling.
Naturally, Twitter was abuzz throughout the dramatic affair.
The 19-year-old Sterling, who entered Sunday's match with seven goals in 29 Premier League appearances, scored his first brace since February, and got the Reds on track early with a fourth-minute laser from the outside the box that put Liverpool ahead 1-0.
But the historic moment would come seven minutes later when Suarez got on the board with his 30th Premier League goal of the season, per Liverpool's official Twitter account:
PHOTO: @luis16suarez celebrates handing #LFC a 2-0 advantage at Carrow Road http://ift.tt/1r4v1PS
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 20, 2014
The goal was assisted by Sterling, who played a beautiful ball into the box.
Opta Sports on Twitter provided a pair of jaw-dropping stats surrounding the Uruguayan's performance:
30 - Luis Suarez is the first player to reach 30 goals in Europe's big five leagues this season. Elite.
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 20, 2014
30 - Luis Suarez is only the 2nd player to reach 30 PL goals without a single penalty in the total (+ Andy Cole with 34 in 1993-94). Pure.
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 20, 2014
ESPN senior researcher Paul Carr added another impressive fact:
Luis Suárez is the first Liverpool player to score 30 league goals in a season since Ian Rush in 1986-87.
- Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) April 20, 2014
But while many were amazed by Suarez's goal scoring chops, others were outraged by his embellishment.
Suarez would finish the match with one goal on five shots and a match rating of 8.7, according to WhoScored.com.
After the match, Suarez admitted that he and his teammates were thrilled to be the front-runners, but acknowledged that the Reds can't let up just yet, per Premier League on Twitter:
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez: 'We are enjoying this moment of being top, but in football you never know.' #NORLIV
- Premier League (@premierleague) April 20, 2014
Norwich's Gary Hooper would narrow the gap in the 54th minute, but Sterling wasn't finished, netting his second goal in the 62nd minute to seize momentum for the Reds.
After Sterling extended Liverpool's lead back to two goals, Now Football made a bold, but legitimate claim:
Raheem Sterling is the best U21 player in the world at the moment, don't even try and deny it.
- Now Football (@Now__Football) April 20, 2014
Football journalist David Kappel credited Suarez for Sterling's tremendous growth:
.@sterling31 must be most improved player this season. Some of his moves look very Suarez-que, surely he learns from him in practice #SLlive
- David Kappel (@kappilinho) April 20, 2014
Sterling would earn Man of the Match honors for his stellar effort, grading out at a 9.8 for the match, according to WhoScored.com.
Michael Regan/Getty Images
Robert Snodgrass would cut Norwich's deficit in half in the 77th minute, but the Canaries' comeback bid would ultimately fail, as Sterling's brace proved to be the difference.
As a result of Liverpool's triumph at Carrow Road, which marks their 11th straight Premier League win, the Reds are now five points clear of second place Chelsea with three matches left to play.
Therefore, next Sunday's showdown between the two clubs at Anfield will be pivotal for each as Liverpool aim to close the door on the title race and Chelsea look to make a last-minute push for the crown.
Although the Blues have been the league's most dominant defensive squad this season, Jose Mourinho's men will have their work cut out for them at Anfield as they attempt to quiet a prolific Reds attack that has scored three or more goals in nine of their last 11 Premier League matches.
But with Sterling coming on strong, Liverpool doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon.
Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.
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