As noted by @TheRedmenTV on Twitter, today marks the nine-year anniversary of Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick for Liverpool in a 3-1 Anfield victory over Manchester United – although plenty of Reds fans on Twitter instead lauded the performance of one of the Dutchman’s team-mates that day.
On this day in 2011 Dirk Kuyt scored a hat trick v Manchester United! pic.twitter.com/w1BU5iMql9
— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) March 6, 2020
Luis Suarez was involved in the build-up to all three of Kuyt’s goals that afternoon, with his role in the first of those perhaps the most memorable. As noted by BBC‘s Phil McNulty, he showed “stunning sleight of foot” to dribble past three opponents in the penalty area before teeing up his fellow forward to open the scoring.
Suarez also showed great persistence in chasing a loose ball to the bye-line and chipping it into the box for Nani to inadvertently head it into Kuyt’s path for his second goal. The Dutchman completed his hat-trick when turning the ball home after Edwin van der Sar fumbled Suarez’s second half free kick. [via BBC]
Although the Uruguayan was jeered on his return to Anfield with Barcelona last year for his antics in the Champions League semi-finals (as per Daily Mail), these Liverpool fans on Twitter chose to remember his more positive side after seeing the footage of his role in Kuyt’s famous hat-trick nine years ago today, with one Kopite proclaiming that Suarez “ends careers” with such a performance:
Suarez play for that first goal still amazes me!
— Steve Melling (@stemell123) March 6, 2020
@josephscrivens2 @jackcondy8 @RhysGant1 Suarez ends careers in that first goal
— corey tucker (@CoreyTucker16) March 6, 2020
Love Dirk…
…but Luis Suarez was so good for the first one that he probably used telekinesis to move Dirk into the right place to play the ball off him.
God that lad was good.
— Steve Hallmark (@warburtonchacha) March 6, 2020
I want Luis Suarez back…
— RB (@KingKopite) March 6, 2020
Suarez for the first tho. Best ever Lfc player for me.
— Scot Williams (@scotwilliams) March 6, 2020
The day Suarez truly announces himself.
— Alan Davidson (@Atticus_F_inch) March 6, 2020
Suarez tho ?
— Dan Barton (@Coach_365) March 6, 2020
Suarez for that first goal ?
— K J Montague (@MontagueKaris) March 6, 2020
How good was Suarez for Liverpool that day in 2011 when Kuyt struck three against Manchester United? Do you still recall him fondly for performances such as that or has he subsequently burned his bridges? Comment below with your views!
