There was defiance on and off the pitch in what may prove to be Malky Mackay's final act as Cardiff City manager but there is nothing that can deny Luis Suárez. Liverpool's stand-in captain and stand-out performer celebrated his new £200,000-a-week contract with his 18th and 19th goals of the season to elevate Brendan Rodgers' team to the top of the Premier League. In Anfield's eyes he is worth every penny.  Liverpool could remain top for Christmas depending on Monday's result between Arsenal and Chelsea. The previous four teams in that position have still been there come May. Their manager played down his team's prospects of repeating that feat this season but, with the brilliant Uruguayan under contract and Jordan Henderson and others developing rapidly, belief is rising. "It is unprecedented for a team to go from seventh one season to first the next, it doesn't happen," said Rodgers, "but we have to keep this momentum going."  The new league leaders produced a contrasting display, excelling in the first half and faltering in the second as Cardiff showed impressive resolve in the wake of their owner Vincent Tan's attempt to oust their manager. The whole of Anfield applauded as the Cardiff fans sang "Malky Mackay, we want you to stay", followed by "Vincent Tan, we want you to go". Mackay had made a pointed entrance, stepping on to the pitch to applaud Cardiff's travelling support before turning round and nodding in the direction of Tan, sitting in the front row of the directors' box. It was not reciprocated by the Malaysian in the sunglasses and leather gloves.  Mackay's problems were unlikely to ease against a Liverpool side with soaring confidence, improved understanding and the league's outstanding performer leading the line. So it proved as Suárez inspired another Anfield triumph.  Cardiff began strongly, were well-organised and Craig Noone was prominent down the right. The midfielder had the game's first opening when released into space by Jordon Mutch, cutting inside Mamadou Sakho and testing Simon Mignolet with a rising drive towards the top corner. The Liverpool goalkeeper tipped the ball over and Mutch headed the resulting corner, from Peter Whittingham, wide.  But the pace, industry and invention of Liverpool were relentless and by the time Cardiff trooped off the pitch at the interval it was debatable whether Mackay would appear for the second half. The threat had been growing, although the final ball was lacking until Suárez instigated a lightning move on the corner of the Cardiff box. The Uruguay international found Joe Allen, who released Henderson, and the commanding midfielder lofted the ball back towards Suárez. The outcome was inevitable, a fine volley into the bottom corner.  Cardiff had a legitimate penalty claim turned down when Martin Skrtel wrestled with Steven Caulker's shirt as the visiting captain tried to meet Whittingham's free-kick to the far post but they were getting little out of this trip. Philippe Coutinho hit a post after spinning away from Noone, Skrtel headed over, Caulker cleared off the line from Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling was denied by David Marshall in goal. It was death by a thousand cuts for Cardiff in the first half.  The overdue second arrived when Henderson's creativity and accuracy with the pass again unlocked the Cardiff defence. The midfielder sent Suárez racing clear of an exposed rearguard with the outside of his foot but the goalscorer supreme chose not to shoot, instead squaring for Sterling to convert into an unguarded net. By doing so he maintained Liverpool's average of two goals per game in the league under Rodgers – the best ratio of any Liverpool manager since John McKenna in 1896.  Liverpool's third said everything about the class and belief coursing through Rodgers' players. Flanagan found Suárez, who played a one-two with Henderson and then, from the midfielder's exquisite back-heel, curled a shot beyond Marshall and into the far corner from the edge of the area.Cardiff, to their credit, refused to roll over and the introduction of Fraizer Campbell and Kim Bo-kyung, plus aerial vulnerability in the Liverpool defence, changed the complexion of the second half, if not the outcome. Mutch reduced the arrears when left unmarked at a Whittingham free-kick to steer a header beyond Mignolet.  Uncertainty spread throughout the Liverpool rearguard, with Mutch sending another good chance over and Caulker again being refused a penalty as he wrestled with Skrtel once more before heading wide. Suárez was denied his hat-trick by a post and Marshall, his only frustration on another compelling afternoon.
Luis Suárez scored twice at Anfield as Liverpool beat Cardiff City 3-1 to go top of the Premier League