Luis Suarez fired a hat-trick as Liverpool moved up to second place in the Premier League with a 4-1 rout of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Uruguay forward Suarez struck twice early in the first half at Anfield and completed his treble soon after half-time.

Daniel Sturridge stole a little of Suarez's thunder with the goal of the day, a superb chipped strike in the closing stages after Albion's James Morrison had reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.

Suarez's fourth hat-trick for Liverpool was his first at Anfield and it lifted Brendan Rodgers' team above Chelsea into second place and within two points of leaders Arsenal, although the Blues would pass the Reds on goal difference with a victory over Manchester City on Sunday.

With 36 goals in his last 46 matches and 57 in 101 Liverpool appearances overall, it is easy to see why Liverpool refused to budge when Arsenal tried to sign Suarez in the close-season.

Initially it appeared the day may have been one of controversy for Suarez as his ninth-minute dive in the area after tussling with Billy Jones resulted in West Brom captain Jonas Olsson remonstrating with the Uruguayan.

Within three minutes Olsson found himself a mere bystander as he was left trailing by Suarez's superb opening goal.

Picking up the ball in the inside-right channel, Suarez skipped past Claudio Yacob before nutmegging Olsson so perfectly the defender was still turning round as the forward beat Boaz Myhill with an angled shot.

If that goal was a product of the South American's nifty footwork his second in the 17th minute was more instinctive.

Having laid off the ball to Aly Cissokho he continued his run to meet the on-loan Valencia defender's first-time cross with a bullet header from long-range.

Jordan Henderson, whose movement and powerful running in behind strikers made a mockery of Alex Ferguson's recent criticism of his gait, almost made it three when he curled a shot over after Lucas Leiva, Suarez and Steven Gerrard had combined on the edge of a congested penalty area.

Sturridge bent a free-kick just off target and Suarez had a shot deflected behind before the Uruguayan completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute.

Gerrard swung in a free-kick from the left and the striker jumped to flick a head and divert the ball into the far corner.

Sturridge crashed a shot against the bar as Liverpool kept their foot on the gas.

Albion won a penalty in the 66th minute after Cissokho was adjudged to have fouled Jones and Scottish midfielder Morrison stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

But it didn't alter the outcome as England striker Sturridge's inch-perfect chip from 20 yards out restored the three-goal cushion in the 77th minute.