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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Norwich v Liverpool, Premier League

Liverpool took on Norwich in a game that could prove vital at both ends of the table.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Norwich 2-3 Liverpool 

Hello, and welcome to our liveblog of what could be a pivotal game in the Premier League title race.

We’ll have the team news for you in a moment.

Here are today’s teams:

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez. SUBS: Jones, Toure, Agger, Cissokho, Moses, Alberto, Aspas.

NORWICH: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson, Johnson, Howson, Fer, Snodgrass, Redmond, Hooper. SUBS: Bunn, van Wolfswinkel, Gutierrez, Garrido, Bennett, Tettey, Murphy.

With all the hype surrounding Liverpool at the moment, it’s easy to forget that this is an absolutely huge game for Norwich as well.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Norwich City v Liverpool - Carrow Road Stephen Pond Stephen Pond

So how much do you think will Liverpool miss Jordan Henderson today?


Poll Results:

A little, but not enough to seriously affect them (510)
Hugely (202)
Hardly at all (130)

Neil Adams says the “pressure” on Liverpool could work to his own side’s advantage.

He reiterates that not many people expected the Reds to be in this position at this stage of the season.

Here’s some definitive proof of Liverpool’s excellent recent form.

Liverpool

Oliver Holt

As you may have heard at some stage this week already, Luis Suarez enjoys playing against Norwich.

Matt Craig / YouTube

We’re underway…

GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

Norwich 0-1 Liverpool: Suarez passes it to Sterling. He goes past his marker and flashes an unstoppable shot from well outside the box that finds the corner (4 mins).

It’s yet another great start for Liverpool.

So that’s now first-half goals in 25 consecutive games for Liverpool.

The Reds have also broken the record for first-half goals this season.

As I type, Gary Hooper goes close with a header just over the bar.

Joe Allen almost gets his first league goal for Liverpool , but Ruddy makes a fine stop to deny him.

If Norwich aren’t careful, this game could be over in the first 20 minutes.

GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

Liverpool 2-0 Norwich: Fantastic cross from Sterling to find Suarez, who characteristically side-foots the ball home consummately (10 mins).

Game over already?

 

Here are the two goals so far:

 

 

Hooper has a chance from close range, but he can’t quite find space to get a shot on goal.

Norwich certainly can’t be accused of giving up prematurely, as they’re currently putting considerable pressure on the Liverpool goal.

HW

Liverpool appear to have weathered that brief Norwich storm now.

Meanwhile, even Joe Allen is attempting long-distance shots, thereby epitomising the confidence flowing through the visitors’ team.

Snodgrass has absolutely launched into a challenge on Joe Allen.

The Scottish international gets a booking as a result.

Sakho sloppily concedes possession in a dangerous area, but Snodgress’ cross is well cut out by Skrtel.

This game doesn’t look over yet.

A testament to the Uruguayan striker’s excellent season.

Suarez

Norwich’s improvement is reflected by the statistic indicating that they have had 61% in the last 10 minutes.

That said, much of Liverpool’s success this season has been built on counter-attacking, rather than possession-based football, so it’s no big surprise that the Canaries are enjoying more of the ball.

Nathan Redmond finds himself in a good position just inside the box, but he badly overhits his cross.

Norwich’s attack has been conspicuously poor this afternoon, particularly when contrasted with Liverpool’s characteristic ruthlessness in advanced areas of the pitch.

Liverpool have certainly taken their foot off the pedal to a degree since the second goal.

Will that be a concern for Brendan Rodgers, or are they wisely conserving energy for games ahead in their title run-in?

The hosts are finding it hard to get the ball off Liverpool at the moment.

A series of passes ultimately resulted in Coutinho curling a shot from just inside the box narrowly wide.

HALF-TIME: NORWICH 0-2 LIVERPOOL

Is there any way back for Norwich?

Join us for the second half and find out.

12 months is a long time in football etc…

Suarez 2

Norwich did show one or two signs that they were capable of coming back into this game, but they’ll need to improve in the final third if they’re to have any hope of reducing Liverpool’s lead in the second half.

The Reds aren’t exactly killing themselves trying to get the third goal, but you get the feeling they could step up their game at any time if required.

The second half has begun…

Here’s where that first-half goal leaves Suarez in the all-time Premier League scorers list.

Suarez 3

Sterling curls a shot just over after a fabulous long pass from Suarez sets up the attack.

Meanwhile, Norwich continue to probe down the other end without creating a clear-cut opening.

GOAL FOR NORWICH!

Norwich 1-2 Liverpool: Mignolet fails to deal with a high ball played into the box and the ball falls to Hooper, who taps home (53 mins). 

Liverpool aren’t happy with Bradley Johnson’s challenge on their goalkeeper, but the referee ignores their protests.

Game on!

Here’s a look at Norwich’s goal.

Suarez twists away from Johnson and produces a shot that narrowly goes wide.

You get the sense that Liverpool will need a third goal the way this game is going.

GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

Norwich 1-3 Liverpool: Bradley Johnson produces a woeful pass that gives Liverpool the chance to counter-attack (60 mins).

From there, Sterling jinks past two or three players and his subsequent shot is deflected off a defender and finds the back of the net.

Johnson covers his face in despair as a result.

Pretty embarrassing stuff from Suarez.

He goes down theatrically holding his ankle following a challenge from a Norwich player, but he immediately gets up when he notices Liverpool have an opportunity to attack.

Brand

Mignolet is forced to parry away a powerful Snodgrass shot for a corner.

Liverpool still don’t look especially comfortable with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Mignolet fails to come for a corner as Martin heads the ball just over.

As potent as they’ve been in attack, there has been a palpable nervousness about Liverpool’s defending at times today, with their goalkeeper being the primary culprit.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Norwich City v Liverpool - Carrow Road PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Norwich City’s Gary Hooper rues a missed chance.

Victor Moses has just replaced Coutinho, who’s been quiet enough today.

Just 15 more minutes remaining.

GOAL FOR NORWICH!

Norwich 2-3 Liverpool: It’s another high ball into the box that Liverpool can’t cope with.

Snodgrass meets a cross and directs his header superbly into the corner of the net. Flanagan was caught standing still in the process (76 mins).

Liverpool are seriously under pressure now.

Norwich have a corner…

Before it can be taken, Agger replaces Allen.

Great chance!

The ball is played in to van Wolfswinkel, but Mignolet gets down well to make the save.

Here are the game’s two most recent goals.

The Liverpool fans are still in fine voice, despite this tense climax.

Less than three minutes of normal time to go.

There will be four minutes of added time.

Meanwhile, Suarez has just hit a shot well wide.

Incredible stuff! Suarez gets by the defender, who lays it off to Lucas, but the Brazilian’s shot from close range is saved.

Less than a minute remains…

FULL-TIME: NORWICH 2-3 LIVERPOOL

It wasn’t easy, but Liverpool have done it.

It’s beginning to feel like their year.

So that’s all from me for now on another dramatic day in the Premier League.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction up on the site shortly.

Patrice Evra picks Luis Suarez as his Player of the Year>

5 talking points from Saturday’s Premier League action>

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