Con does trick for under-fire Brucie!
CONOR HOURIHANE netted a sensational hat-trick as Aston Villa answered their critics in style with a thumping home win.
The Irishman put Steve Bruce’s side in front and Andre Green grabbed a second before half-time.
Norwich hit back through Josh Murphy, but Hourihane bagged a second and then completed his hat-trick after Nelson Oliveira’s strike had threatened a Canaries comeback.
Bruce was full of praise for Hourihane and said: “I’m delighted for Conor.
“He will remember this Norwich game. It is not often a midfield player gets a hat-trick. He was terrific.”
The manager, under pressure after failing to land a win in Villa’s first three league game, put his faith in youth by naming teenagers Green and Keinan Davis in his starting line-up.
They repaid him as Davis, on debut, set up Hourihane’s 22nd-minute opener with a low cross that the striker slotted home fron 10 yards.
Davis had already tested Canaries keeper Angus Gunn in the second minute and demonstrated the remakable strides he has made since arriving at Villa Park from non-league Biddleswade United last year.
Three minutes before half-time Villa Park erupted again when Green’s ambitious long-range effort whistled into the top corner.
Davis was again involved, setting up Henri Lansbury who fed the ball to Green.
Norwich brought the game back to the boil on the hour with a goal from Murphy.
But Villa restored their two-goal cushion when Hourihane’s shot deflected in off Harrison Reed.
Norwich sub Oliveira again gave his side hope 11 minutes from time, but Hourihane claimed the match ball with a 20-yard drive.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke said: “It was a disappointing result.
“I am happy and content with the reaction of my guys in the second half and their attitude.
“The reason we lost was our poor first half when we made some silly mistakes.”
WHILE one Brazilian is driving Liverpool fans nuts, another sent the Kop wild with a display which took him to their hearts.
Philippe Coutinho is still in exile, being treated for his backache while his future under Jurgen Klopp is sorted out one way or the other as Barcelona refuse to go away.
But Roberto Firmino is alive and kicking, with the faithful belting out his name during a standing ovation when he was substituted a minute from time.
The samba star remains a driving force in the push for honours this season.
Sadio Mane’s goal was the crucial factor to success against Crystal Palace and he celebrated the winner with a body bump against his ecstatic boss on the touchline.
But Klopp was in a much more serious mood when he was again asked about Coutinho.
The German said: “There’s nothing new from the injury side and if I speak to the owners that’s not a situation I will speak about. But I am informed about everything in the club. Nothing has changed. I don’t say there has been another bid, I’m just saying nothing has changed.
“And today the result was well deserved. Not perfect but well deserved.”
Palace boss Frank de Boer tried to remain upbeat despite the loss.
“We deserved more. I’m convinced if we show this every week then the points will come. We’re still looking for players but there won’t be panic buying,” he said.
It was the perfect end to a hectic week for the Reds, starting with a trip to Watford, jetting off to Germany in the Champions League and then back to Merseyside for the clash with Palace.
But Klopp has faith in his squad’s stamina and staying ability as well as confidence in their desire to face tough games at home and abroad as they battle for the silverware he believes they so richly deserve.
And the Kop boss was delighted to see Daniel Sturridge back in action after his thigh problem, with watching England boss Gareth Southgate impressed with a hard-working hour of combat.
Sturridge was at the heart of a frantic first half and Palace could not take any kind of breather with the action coming thick and fast.
Not even mickey-taking chants of “Where’s your Coutinho” to mock the absence of the Barca-bothered star could knock Liverpool out of their stride.
Andy Robertson settled into his new left-back berth as though he had played there all his life, constantly whipping the ball across the box to leave fluttering hearts in the Palace rear-guard.
Chances came and went until two exploded on to the scene in quick succession in the 40th minute.
First Firmino let fly with a big dipper and Wayne Hennessey was at his best to keep his shot out.
Then seconds later Palace skipper Jason Puncheon found space on the left and his effort was saved by Liverpool No.1 Simon Mignolet. Palace stayed under the cosh, though, for the restart with James Milner scooping a free-kick over the bar and Firmino whipping in a low shot which Hennessey scrambled to paw clear.
But Palace almost snatched the lead when Ruben Loftus-Cheek delivered a slide-rule pass to Christian Benteke, who blazed over in the 55th minute.
Liverpool came agonisingly close to scoring four minutes later when Mane weaved his way across goal and Jordan Henderson stepped in to see Hennessey save his shot at the foot of the post.
Somehow the Palace defence managed to stay intact through an avalanche of half-chances until the deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute.
Luka Milivojevic was guilty of a lack of composure and as the ball ricocheted away from him, Mane was on full alert to ram into the bottom corner.
It could have been more Palace pain in the dying minutes when sub Dominic Solanke’s shot bounced off Hennessey’s knees. The keeper also saved from Robertson and then denied Mo Salah with a brilliant one-handed stop.