It’s still not pay day, it’s raining outside and it’s going to be a weekend on the couch. Let’s get it going with Liverpool’s trip to East Anglia.
Michael Owen and Chris Sutton are on punditry duty for BT Sport; they’d score a lot of goals together but they’re not exactly Ant and Dec.
The on-pitch fare should be entertaining though.
Let’s get those teams in then. Robbie Brady and Weso start for the Canaries and it’s good to see Jon Flanagan on the Reds’ bench.
Norwich City: Rudd, Ivo Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Brady, Howson, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Redmond, Naismith, Mbokani.
Subs: Ruddy, Jerome, Jarvis, Klose, Mulumbu, Olsson, Odjidja-Ofoe.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Lucas, Henderson, Milner, Firmino, Ibe.
Subs: Benteke, Caulker, Lallana, Allen, Flanagan, Ward.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Norwich’s new signing Timm Klose – a big signing form Wolfsburg this week – starts as a sub. Chris Sutton suggests Alex Reid takes a punt on Leigh Griffiths if they want a striker.
‘Celtic fans won’t thank me for saying that,’ the Parkhead legend says. He’s not wrong.
Kloppo on recent performance and turning it into results: “Keep the good things, change the bad things, that’s the challenge for today.”
Chris Sutton on Wes Hoolahan: “He’s the first name on the team sheet, for me.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the Dubliner fares against this Liverpool side and they’re pressing game.
Sutton and Owen have been good so far actually, in my opinion. The former Liverpool striker is a lot better on the sideline in conversation than in the second commentary chair.
Asked if Norwich will stay up, Owen answers simply: “No”.
Will Liverpool make the Champions League, Chris? “No.”
The teams are in the tunnel and we’r almost ready to go.
Steve McManaman is looking for Liverpool’s forward players to show up today and start delivering the goals they need to move up the table.
Lucas gets caught late by Steven Naismith, who’s trying to make an impression on his debut.
Norwich have started brightly and are getting the ball in the box and getting players to the touchline. Liverpool are yet to find their rhythm I think it’s fair to say.
Ibe showed a flash of brilliance down the left there. He stood up the defender, then tore past him to get in behind. It comes to nothing but that’s better from Liverpool’s point of view.
This has been shown a couple of times today on different stations. They’re now manager and player but Alex Neil and Steven Naismith have met before:
GOAL! Norwich 0 Liverpool 1 Firminio 19′
The Brazilian breaks the deadlock thanks to a slight touch off Rudd in the home goal. The ball spins onto the post and in.
Milner, Ibe and Moreno had combined well in the lead up.
Liverpool should be two up. Robbie Brady was caught out by Milner before sliding in to rescue the situation and force a corner.
It’s all Liverpool now. Bassong gives away a stupid free kick on the edge of the box by pulling on the shirt of Firminio. The ball is tapped to Moreno but the full back drills it wide.
GOAL! Norwich 1 Liverpool 1, Mbokani
The on-loan Dynamo Kiev striker backheels the ball past the Liverpool keeper from a few yards out after a corner ball is — yet again — not dealt with by Jurgen Klopp’s defence.
Wessi took advantage of Moreno slipping to drive towards goal. Lucas slid and then Moreno got back to — it seemed – dragg down the Ireland international.
But not for the first time this afternoon, Lee Mason isn’t having any of it and waves play on. He’s let an awful lot slide today.
GOAL! Norwich 2 Liverpool 1, Steven Naismith 41′
That’s what they paid the money for! The Scottish forward run past Hoolohan, who, as always plays the right ball. Naismith rifles the ball into the bottom corner.
HALF-TIME: Norwich 2 Liverpool 1
That hasn’t been very encouraging from Kloppo’s point of view. Norwich go in at the break in control despite Liverpool opening the scoring.
The Irish players on show, Weso and Brady, have been central to all the Canaries’ best work, though the latter has had a couple of defensive slips.
What did you make of that?
Pinto wastes a really good chance on the back post. He had way more time than he realised and rather than control the ball and look up, he first-timed it over and wide.
Christian Benteke is warming up and he may not be too far away from an introduction.
Penalty to Noriwch!
GOAL! Noriwch 3 Liverpool 1, Hoolahan 54′
Moreno, son! What are you doing.
Naismith gets inside him and the Liverpool defender dives in. He gets away with that but has another nibble and the peno is given.
The Ireland playmaker chips it to the net but he gets away with it. Mignolet wasn’t too far from it and it wasn’t the best-executed Panenka ever.
3-1 though and Macca is shocked by that defending from Moreno.
GOAL! Norwich 3 Liverpool 2, Henderson 56′
Wow! Liverpool strike back immediately. Clyne squares the ball form the flank, it’s touched on to Henderson and the England midfielder is completely unmarked in front of the goal. It’s a tidy finish on the half turn in the end. Game on, Ger.
Adam Lallana is on for Jordan Ibe, who’s been dangerous looking all afternoon. just over half an hour to go and you suspect the managers may well change this game with their substitutions.
GOAL! Norwich 3 Liverpool 3, Firmino 63
The Brazilian gets his second of the game. He arrived into the box late to meet a lovely ball form Lallana. He made no mistake form 10 yards or so. That Norwich defending was relegation stuff though.
Weso’s off for Matt Jarvis and potential Irish international Nathan Redmond is off for Martin Olsson.
GOAL! Norwich 3 Liverpool 4, James Milner 75′
That is a nightmare. Jonny Howson tries to play a backpass form the halfway line for no good reason and Milner gets in. He tucks it calmly away.
Benteke’s come on in the meantime.
Moreno’s again escaped a yellow card. He should surely have been booked there for a trip but Lee Mason can’t be bothered today it seems.
10 minutes to go and Cameron Jerome is about to be introduced. The away supporters are in fine voice now.
Delia’s not looking too happy as time is running out. There’ll be five minutes of injury time though.
Steven Caulker is on for Moreno. In defence this time, rather than the striking job he’s been given the last two games.
GOAL! Norwich 4 Liverpool 4, Bassong 93′
What a game! The big centre half drives home form outside the box after a knock down. Carrow Road explodes.
GOAL! Norwich 4 Liverpool 5, Lallana 94′
Oh my days! What a game.
Liverpool have snatched this at the very death through he substitute. The ball pings around the home side’s box before it lands for Lallana. He strikes it into the ground like the old Tipperary hurlers and it nestles in the Canaries’ net.
That’s amazing.
FULL-TIME Norwich 4 Liverpool 5
Gilroy is one of those players who should really have more international caps than he does. Hes been very unlucky in my opinion.
@Rudiger McMonihan:
Unfortunately for him his all round game is just not up to international class.
I fear that unless Adam Byrne improves his defence he will become the new Craig Gilroy but there is no doubt going forward they are impressive.
You’d worry for Ulster with that backrow. Marcel Coetzee and Jean Deysel always seem to be injured.
I wonder would Leinster have a backrow or two to spare for up north?
@Culture At War: Matt O’Connor was apparently in town this week talking to three Leinster and Ireland players about signing for Leicester Tigers next season. If Nucifora is doing his job properly, he should be making sure we keep our talent here rather than letting other talents leave like Zebo.
@Paul McCutcheon: why would any Irish forward want to play for that crash bang wallop merchant. 2 season playing for him will take 3 season of your career
@Chris Mc: Didnt stop Dominic Ryan going to them and putting any international ambition aside, rather than move North were he would have be greatly appreciated and got plenty of gametime.
@Kingshu: Agreed. Looks like Ryan is going to do a Marty Moore.
Surely Peter Nelson should be getting a start at out half in games like these? Ulster will be in real trouble when CL leaves in the new year.
@Captain NerbNerb: Should be they clearly they are banking on the outcome of the court case.
I was very impressed with McBurney performances for the U20’s over the last two years. He seems to have put on some mass which he needed to add to his already impressive technical skills at both ruck and line out time. In a position that has a load of questions marks for Ireland going forward if he continues to impress and develop his game all the better for Ulster and Ireland. At 21 and having been in the same environment with Best he has the time and guidance.
@Ian Verdon: Tbh John Andrews has a fair turn of speed which never seems fully utilized. If he was brought in the 7s program it might help him develop better footwork and handling skills.
there isnt one decent forward in that pack
@Tommy Bread: Reidy, Henry & Treadwell are all Irish internationals.
@Tommy Bread: disagree, you obviously don’t watch them regularly.
All this fake news circulating !!!
I could have sworn that Ulster announced weeks ago that they had signed a South African loose head forward.
I must be wrong, but then I have this memory of the Ulster management over the last 3 weeks saying something alone the lines of a new prop making his debut this weekend but where did he go.
Maybe they could tell us for real if he is fit or not.
Will he play soon, play this year, this season or is he banjacksed
@Mark Smith: Absolutely. Is it or is not another B@!!s up?
The Kings only real threat is in the backline. If Ulster hope to go there and play expansive sevens style rugby they could be in for a shock! Win the battle up front and when the game is in the bag do the fancy stuff.