Norwich City 2-5 Liverpool Match Report
Liverpool went to Carrow Road in desperate need of a victory as they still searched for their first league win of the season. Liverpool received an encouraging midweek boost when they beat West Brom in the Capital One Cup with Brendan Rodgers fielding a very young side, and it would be interesting to see what team he would pick after so many good performances midweek.
The Team
Brendan Rodgers brought back many of his regulars for the visit to Norwich, with Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Suarez and Joe Allen coming back into the side. Brendan Rodgers gave a reward to youngsters Suso and Wisdom for their performances midweek and also to two goal hero Sahin, Raheem Sterling was also included in the team as he is quickly becoming a regular.
The Match
Liverpool took the lead before many supporters had took their seat for the match when crisp passing sent the ball skimming back and forth across the Carrow Road surface, pulling the opposition apart and carving holes in their formation.
Then the killer ball from Raheem Sterling, who collected play from Joe Allen and pivoted into space before sliding the ball into Johnson, who poked into Sahin.
Turner came across to dispossess him but the ball ricocheted into the path of Suarez, who cut inside before arrowing the ball back across the face of goal and into the bottom corner of John Ruddy’s net.
It was the perfect start for Liverpool and their confidence grew with Liverpool dominating possession for long periods.
Then in the 22nd minute Suarez was bundled to the ground by Leon Barnett in the penalty but referee Mike Jones waved away Liverpool’s appeals.
Norwich threatened when Simeon Jackson lashed the ball over the bar with a left-footed volley after Steve Morison nodded it back into his path.
Suso then fed Suarez, who clipped a superb pass into the path of Gerrard. The skipper met the ball with his head but Ruddy was out well to push his effort away.
Suarez was sent through on goal once more but he side-footed wide when he really should have slotted. However, seconds later the Uruguayan stole play from Michael Turner, nutmegged him and then sent the ball curling past Ruddy with a fine right-footed effort.
It was no more than Liverpool deserved with their domination of the first half.
Norwich almost pulled a goal back at the start of the second half but Snodgrass deflected his effort over the bar.
At the other end, the Reds responded in style. Suarez slalomed down the right and at the second time of asking, slipped a pass into Sahin, who rolled the ball home from yards out.
Minutes later, Suarez got his hat-trick.
Sterling started the move that finished with Sahin slotting the ball into the Uruguayan, who took a touch to compose himself before calmly curling past Ruddy.
Norwich just couldn’t handle Suarez and Liverpool’s confident passing play and it looked to be a matter of how many for the visitors.
But Norwich did manage to pull one back on the hour-mark, Reina beat a Russell Martin effort out into the path of Morison, who fired into the bottom corner to make it 4-1.
But Liverpool were not finished yet and Gerrard made it five when his deflected effort beat Ruddy after a good run down the right by Sterling, although Norwich pulled a second goal back through substitute Grant Holt to end the scoring.
Summary
It was great to see Brendan Rodgers reward Suso, Sahin and give Andre Wisdom his league debut for their midweek performances. Liverpool got a great start to the match with the early goal but their passing and confidence throughout the game was impressive. Suarez was unplayable and proved how clinical he can be in front of goal. Great to see Liverpool win their first league win and this will only bring more confidence. So many good performances, but what does Suarez have to do to get a penalty, unbelievable stone waller waved away again. Disappointing to lose two poor goals but can’t take away from an impressive away win by Liverpool and to score five goals in the process is tremendous and hopefully Liverpool can build on this.
Fantastic result overjoyed with our 1st win in EPL , however it comes with concerns from our defenders, I said it and i wil say it again we have to find a another GK ,Reina is is no longer what he used to be and he will costs us points , BR must not select team on sentiments and past glory , give Jones a chance and buy a GK in January,
Thoroughly impressed with the whole team on Saturday, especially Suso! I know Suarez will get the headlines but for me, playing someone who loves to cut in and join the central midfielders as well as someone who’s feet stick to the ball (he can literally saunter into the penalty area, highlighted by the run on Wed night – 2 mins after he came on!) is a masterstroke by BR.
Sterling will hug the lines and the full backs including Wisdom (who people keep saying will play at centre-half but I think he looks a natural right-back) will get forward and overlap meaning we almost play with 4 central midfielders when Suso comes in. I’m telling you now, Suarez and Suso could be the best midfield – forward partnership in the prem if BR keeps playing him. He can see Suarez move behind the lines before Suarez knows it himself! Got to say well done to Rafa for spotting the potential and well done to BR for sticking him in the team.
I think the leaked goals thing is a blip . . Agger and Johnson are world class and Skrtl is almost there, there is no way they have became worse defenders since BR came in – I put it down to the adjustment of the philosophy as well as (harshly but honestly) Reina’s poor form. I think potentially the change in line up of the back four could have a factor, I don’t think we have played the same back four in successive games all season . . It sounds daft, but that does have an impact.
The big test for us will be the next two matches, I feel. Udinese are a decent side and are doing ok in the Serie A, as well as having world class players like Di Natalie etc. If we can dominate an experienced European team with (I would surmise) another young squad and then host Stoke and dominate a physically difficult side, then I think we can truly say that we are on our way. I reckon we may draw with Udinese given the team they will likely put out against the team we will. I’m going to go for another end to end match like Young Boys but with a lower scoreline! – 2 – 2. The Stoke game will be difficult, players like Adam and Crouch will have a point to prove and they will really test how much of a “blip” Reina is currently in. I expect a low scoreline here, Liverpool 2 – 1 but Stoke to score first. Like I said, this week we will see what this promising team is really made of . . . can’t wait!
YNWA x
I think Reina is suffering from BR’s new style. It seems like Reina is acting more of a sweeper keeper. Once he gets use to it, he will be back to his old form. Reina is class, and Jones doesn’t cut it(yet). At our current position, I doubt we can attract a decent keeper.
The goals he conceded was also the fault of the defenders. Throughout the game, I wondered where Agger was. Allen was looking more like a defender than Agger.
That said, Allen was awesome. He is doing the job of Lucas as well as passing crisply. The players BR brings in are doing well. It makes me think where will Lucas be once he comes back. This competitiveness have probably pushed Gerrard to perform better.
As said, Wisdom was awesome and solid. Assaidi was a tad bit disappointing, his runs often end up ineffective and the players don’t seem to pass to him too often.