Match Report: Liverpool Edge Nine-Goal Thriller at Carrow Road
"I'm exhausted," a Norwich supporter murmured as she left the stadium in front of the press box. Others were left inconsolable in their seats, as if they'd just been relegated on the last day of the season. Captain Russell Martin was alone in his own half. His face firmly planted into his shirt. He looked like he wanted to be swallowed up by a hole in the ground. His costly individual mistake contributed to their incredible 5-4 defeat to Liverpool and his demeanour spelt out a man that sensed his Norwich career could soon be over.
While three quarters of the stadium were stunned into silence, the away fans were having a party. Adam Lallana's stoppage time winner sparked wild scenes at the full-time whistle, as Jurgen Klopp was left with his glasses in pieces after embracing a shirtless Lallana and the rest of the jubilant Liverpool team.
Klopp later revealed this wasn't the first time he’s broken his glasses in celebration. The first came when Borussia Dortmund beat Bayern Munich for the first time under his tutelage. Those glasses are now under lock and key in the Dortmund club-museum. These glasses aren't likely to find their way alongside Liverpool's five European Cups, but it was a result that could prove to be as equally important in Klopp's tenure as Liverpool manager.
Off the back of a disappointing defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United, Liverpool were left eight points adrift of the top four and Klopp needed a response. After just 18 minutes, he looked to have got that. Roberto Firmino evaded Sebastian Bassong’s measly effort to spring an offside trap to give the away side the lead. They could have doubled their advantage two minutes later when James Milner was released through on Declan Rudd’s goal, but the England international was unable to summon an attempt on goal before Robbie Brady’s excellent last ditch challenge sent the ball out for a corner.
Another comfortable day in the offing for Liverpool? The two sides had shared 33 goals in their previous six meetings before their latest humdinger, with Luis Suarez responsible for 12 of those. Their start made for bleak reading for the Norwich fans.
However, nothing more came after Brady’s emphatic challenge. In fact, Brady was responsible for stifling much that looked promising for Klopp’s men in the first half. The Ireland international bullied Nathaniel Clyne’s forward runs during the entire and went into the break with at least three more tackles to his name than any other player (6). He also won three aerial duels, but the second half proved more difficult for the 24-year-old, like it did for every defender.
Alex Neil’s men started the second half on the front foot. Dieumerci Mbokani’s inspired back-heeled finish and Steven Naismith’s debut goal had given them a 2-1 lead. It looked like a long 255 mile drive back towards the M6 for the travelling Liverpool support when Wes Hoolahan converted the penalty Naismith won less than 10 minutes in the second half, but as Klopp expressed afterwards, their comeback was “impressive”.
From that point on, in the remaining 40 minutes, there were five more goals. Jordan Henderson sparked the Liverpool comeback less than 60 seconds after Norwich had raced into a 3-1 lead. Adam Lallana was brought on for Ibe just before the hour mark and the England midfielder made an immediate impact, picking out an unmarked Firmino in the Norwich box four minutes later. Firmino cooly converted to bring the two teams level.
Norwich captain Martin hadn’t inspired much confidence in the build up to Henderson’s goal and he was completely at fault for what appeared to be the winner for Liverpool. His attempted back pass was far too short and James Milner kindly obliged by slotting past Rudd to give his side a 4-3 lead with just 15 minutes remaining.
There was still time for Bassong to spark jubilant scenes at Carrow Road with his sensational low drive from outside the box in added time, but any ecstasy quickly turned to excoriating agony for the home side. Norwich twice failed to clear a late Liverpool attack, before Lallana was on hand to punish them with almost the last touch of the afternoon. It was a game littered with abysmal defending, but it is going to take some beating for game of the season.
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