Liverpool’s Suarez can claim third 2013/14 hat-trick against Cardiff

Since their top-table arrival Cardiff have provided slim pickings for their hosts, shipping two goals or fewer in seven of their eight away league games, but with their spindly legs stuck in Luis Suarez’s Anfield spiderweb, that’s all about to change.

The Uruguayan goal-hunter has been treating Anfield like his own private game reserve since his return from suspension, plundering at least two goals in each of his last four matches in front of the Kop.

That he’s 6/4 to notch two or more against the Bluebirds is testament to the fact that he has joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in an elite group of international marksmen.

As such, the 6/1 about the Liverpool man hitting a third hat-trick in five Anfield outings looks a far more tasty price.

While it cannot be denied that few home teams have gone bananas at the expense of Malky Mackay’s men, every outfit bar one they’ve dropped in on so far find themselves in the bottom half of the table at present.

The one in question is Chelsea who, after allowing Jordon Mutch a moment for the scrapbook, took them to the cleaners, with Eden Hazard helping himself to a double en route to a 4-1 victory.

As such there’s little reason to suspect that things will be much different on Merseyside, where Liverpool are plenty more convincing hosts than the Blues.

Suarez’s predatory instincts are at their keenest against lowly sides too, with 14 of his 17 strikes notched against bottom-seven dwellers.

Cardiff’s internal strife, in a week where Vincent Tan has reportedly asked Malky Mackay to resign or be sacked, is only likely to further cloud their judgement.

Those tilting their cash cannons at the destination of the points won’t be overwhelmed with ardour over the 2/5 about a victory for Liverpool.

However, backing Brendan Rodgers’ would-be table toppers to buck a trend of home concessions by winning to nil at 4/5 looks far more alluring.

They snapped a four-match run of sullied linen in their 5-0 condemnation of Andre Villas-Boas last time out and they haven’t allowed more than one goal to any league visitor all season.