Man City's Manuel Pellegrini and Luis Suarez win Barclays Manager and Player awards for December
Suarez recognised for his record-breaking 10 Barclays Premier League goals in the month
Pellegrini claims first award for City's six victories and a draw during demanding December programme
Liverpool Striker Luis Suarez and Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini have won the Barclays monthly awards for December.
Suarez wins the Barclays Player of the Month accolade after becoming the first player in the history of the Barclays Premier League to reach double figures in a calendar month with 10 goals for the Merseysiders in December.
The Uruguay international got off to a flying start to the month with four of Liverpool's goals in their 5-1 victory over Norwich City on 4 December and he scored two goals in each of his subsequent three Barclays Premier League appearances for the Reds, helping them record wins over West Ham United (4-1), Tottenham Hotspur (5-0) and Cardiff City (3-1).
Over the seven Barclays Premier League matches, Suarez also claimed four assists but it was perhaps his shooting that most caught the eye, as he hit the target from 70% of his goal attempts. The 26-year-old fired 26 shots on target and 11 off target with a conversion rate of 27%, scoring a goal every 2.6 shots on target.
His double-strike against the Bluebirds propelled Brendan Rodgers' side to the top of the Barclays Premier League at Christmas for the first time since 2008.
SUAREZ GOALS IN DECEMBER
Match Suarez goals
Hull City 3-1 Liverpool -
Liverpool 5-1 Norwich City 4
Liverpool 4-1 West Ham United 2
Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Liverpool 2
Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City 2
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool -
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool -
Meanwhile City boss Pellegrini claims the manager's award after masterminding six Barclays Premier League victories from seven unbeaten matches over the course of a congested fixture schedule.
Wins over Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool and Crystal Palace took City from sixth place in the table with 22 points from 12 matches and nine points behind the leaders to second place with 41 points from 19 fixtures and within a point of table-topping Arsenal.
City also climbed the table in style, scoring 30 goals during their seven Barclays Premier League matches, including a pulsating 6-3 triumph over Arsenal on 14 December, which has kept them on course to break Chelsea's record seasonal haul of 103 goals achieved in the 2009/10 season.
It is the first time Pellegrini, who joined the club in the summer, has won the award, and the 60-year-old Chilean will be hoping to celebrate by taking his side to the top of the League table on Sunday, which they will achieve with an away victory at Newcastle United.
Man City's December results
1 Dec Man City 3-0 Swansea
4 Dec West Brom 2-3 Man City
7 Dec Southampton 1-1 Man City
14 Dec Man City 6-3 Arsenal
21 Dec Fulham 2-4 Man City
26 Dec Man City 2-1 Liverpool
28 Dec Man City 1-0 Crystal Palace
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