The Liverpool striker notched 10 goals last month as the Reds moved top for Christmas Day, while Manchester City went unbeaten and won six of their seven matches

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been named Barclays Premier League Player of the Month for December, while Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini has scooped the managers’ gong.

Suarez started and ended the month on a sour note, with defeats at Hull City, Manchester City and Chelsea, but was in blistering form for the four intervening matches, scoring 10 goals.

Those include four in one match against Norwich City on December 4, two against West Ham, two in a superb performance at Tottenham which spelled the end for Andre Villas-Boas at White Hart Lane, and two against Cardiff City.

Those goals helped put the Reds top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day, although they had slipped to fifth by New Year’s Eve.

Maiden gong | Pellegrini claims his first monthly accolade in England (Barclays)

Pellegrini has been recognised as December’s best manager after guiding his side to an unbeaten month, with six wins from seven games.

Southampton were the only side to stop City winning last month, claiming a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s. But victories against Swansea, West Brom, Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool and Crystal Palace make the Chilean the obvious choice.

Those results leave City only one point behind table-toppers Arsenal, who were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium on December 14.