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Premier League
Jan 23, 2016 at 12.45pm UK
 
LL

4-5

Mbokani (29'), Naismith (41'), Hoolahan (54' pen.), Bassong (92')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Firmino (18', 63'), Henderson (55'), Milner (75'), Lallana (95')

Live Commentary: Norwich City 4-5 Liverpool - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Norwich City 4-5 Liverpool - as it happened: ID:264855: from db_amp
Relive the nine-goal madness between Norwich City and Liverpool with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.

The early Saturday kickoff on matchday 23 in the Premier League took place at Carrow Road as Norwich City welcomed Liverpool and what happened was quite a spectacle as nine goals went in.

After throwing away a 3-1 lead in the second half, it seemed Norwich had salvaged a point when Sebastien Bassong fired home in added time, only for Liverpool to snatch the points in the 95th minute.

Relive what was a barmy game that will be remembered for its sloppy defending with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.

Allo allo! How are we on this crisp Saturday morning? Matchday 23 in the Premier League kicks off at Carrow Road as Norwich host Liverpool.
Before we delve into more detail about the two teams, let's bring you the team news, which has just been announced...
NORWICH XI: Rudd; Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Dorrans, Howson, Hoolahan; Naismith; Mbokani
Subs: Ruddy, Jerome, Jarvis, Klose, Mulumbu, Olsson, Odjidja
The big news for Norwich is that Steven Naismith starts. The Scottish forward joined Norwich for a reported £8.5m from Everton and his first game for the Canaries will be against the red half of Merseyside. There's also a debut for Ivo Pinto at right-back as Alex Neil makes four changes to the side that were handsomely beaten at Bournemouth last Saturday.
Ryan Bennett, Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Alexander Tettey and Matt Jarvis are those to drop out, with Nathan Redmond and Graham Dorrans the other two players coming in. Naismith will start just behind lead striker Dieumerci Mbokani.
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno; Lucas, Henderson, Can; Milner, Ibe; Firmino
Subs: Ward, Caulker, Flanagan, Allen, Teixeira, Lallana, Benteke
Jurgen Klopp makes just one change to the side that lost at home to bitter rivals Manchester United last Sunday, as Jordon Ibe gets the nod over Adam Lallana in the front three.
Lallana has been struggling this week with a muscle problem and might only be fit enough for the bench, or maybe Klopp just fancied a change.
Just looking at the two teams, I'd say Norwich have gone much more attacking and Liverpool appear to have very few creative players. Christian Benteke is on the bench and might have enjoyed playing against a Norwich side who do tend to concede from crosses.
There's one other new face in the Norwich squad, with Timm Klose on the bench. Tettey was meant to start in midfield, but turned up a little ill this morning so Dorrans came in.

Click here to see how the Premier League table looks after 22 games of the season. Norwich are 16th and just two points above the drop zone. Defeat today, coupled with results against them elsewhere will see them fall into the bottom three.
Liverpool start the weekend ninth, eight points behind the top four, but will move up to seventh for a few hours at least if they record victory at Carrow Road and recent history suggests that they will be the ones celebrating come full time...
H2H: Liverpool have won nine and lost none of the last 11 Premier League meetings with Norwich.
One of the two times Norwich have avoided defeat against the Reds in the league in recent times was earlier this season when Russell Martin earned the Canaries a fully-deserved point at Anfield.

One player Norwich fans will be glad is not a Red any more is Luis Suarez. The now-Barcelona striker loved playing against the Norfolk side, scoring four in one game at Anfield and also netting a memorable hat-trick at Carrow Road in September 2012.
Klopp was just asked by BT Sport if he considered starting Benteke given that Norwich have conceded more goals from crosses than anyone else in the top flight. He hinted that his ploy was to get the home side tired and then throw Benteke on against a jaded backline in the second half. Interesting.
Taking a look at our defence-focussed tables in the Sports Mole Stats Centre, you can see that Norwich have kept a league-low three clean sheets, but all of them have come at home. You'll also notice that only Sunderland, with 8, have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than Liverpool (6).
Norwich have lost back-to-back league games, but both of those were away at Stoke and Bournemouth. At Carrow Road, the Canaries are unbeaten in five and have only conceded two in that time, winning three, including the last two against Aston Villa and Southampton.
So that bodes well for the Canaries and it makes even better reading when you look at Liverpool's away form. Klopp's men have lost three of the last four on the road in the league and failed to score in each of those games. The only goal they have managed in that time was away at Sunderland. Before this recent slump away from home, Klopp picked up seven points out of a possible nine from trips to Spurs, Chelsea and Man City, so the dip has been surprising.

STAT: Norwich have exactly the same record after 22 games that they did in their last Premier League season (2013-14, in which they were relegated) - W6 D5 L11 and 23 points. For me, they are favourites to join Villa and Sunderland in going down.
Staying up this season is absolutely massive because of the impending new TV deal which will earn Premier League clubs a massive windfall. Both Norwich and Bournemouth have been very busy in the transfer window to bolster their squads in the hope of staying up, with Norwich already splashing £20m on five players, including £8.5m on Naismith and over £7m on Klose.
An experienced head like Naismith, who has played in many big games, could be the type of player to help keep them up. It's ironic that his first Norwich game is against his old rivals Liverpool and interestingly he bagged his first Everton goal in the Merseyside derby. Click here to read what the Scot said ahead of this match.
Steven Caulker and Marko Grujic are the two players to have joined Liverpool this month, but Caulker is a back-up player who has bizarrely been thrown on in attack the last couple of matches. Grujic is back at Red Star Belgrade on a loan-back and the one player that they have been heavily linked with is Shakhtar's Alex Teixeira.
Right, back to Carrow Road, where the two teams have just come out into the Norfolk winter sunshine. Just before kickoff, let me point you in the direction of our new podcast, The Dugout, where, among other things, we talk about Norwich's transfer business.

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PREDICTION: Just before kickoff, it's time to make my prediction on the match. Even though Liverpool seem to have gone very defensive, I'm going to back the Reds to just edge it 2-1.
KICKOFF! The home side get us underway at Carrow Road.
Very little of note has happened in the early stages, with both sides very active defensively. Neither team has been able to string many passes together.
Everton fans will absolutely this as Naismith goes in very hard on Lucas. There didn't seem to be too much malice there, but Lucas got to the ball first and Naismith's studs planted into the Brazilian's ankle. He could have easily been booked there.
Today's referee, who let Naismith off there, is Lee Mason, by the way.
Really good play down the Norwich right as debutant Pinto and buzzy winger Redmond combine. The latter surges into the box and delivers low, but Toure is there to clear away.
Pinto has started really well. He looks bright and eager to get forward from full-back. With him and Brady bombing on down either wing, Norwich could be a threat from wide areas.
Norwich much the better team at the moment as Hoolahan turns down the chance to shoot, instead crossing and having his centre cleared. Liverpool look like they have a man less in midfield at the moment, which shouldn't be the case as they've packed it out with Lucas, Henderson and Can.
First nervy moment for Pinto as Ibe nicks the ball off him and crosses into the middle. Fortunately for the former, it misses all the red shirts in the box.

Moreno knocks the ball over the top for Firmino to run on to and he almost beats Bassong to the ball before seemingly winning a corner off the defender. However, Mason points for a goal kick.
GOAL! NORWICH 0-1 LIVERPOOL (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
They've barely threatened so far, but it's Liverpool who sneak in front and it's a nicely-worked goal, you have to say. Moreno cuts the ball back for Milner and he quickly threads it through for Firmino. Brady is not up with the line and he plays the Brazilian onside before he finds the bottom corner. Rudd got a slight touch to it, but he could not divert it wide.
CHANCE! Oh it should be two. Norwich's high line catches them out again as Milner charges through. Henderson is up in support but Milner opts to go himself and he can't get off a shot as Brady makes a last-gasp tackle.
Ibe is now seeing loads of the ball down the Liverpool left and looking really threatening. Another chance coming up for the visitors as Bassong stupidly tugs back Firmino right on the edge of the box...
SHOT! The ball is teed up for Moreno and his powerful drive has too much swerve and whizzes past the post.
Hmmmmm. Replays show that Bassong's foul for that free kick might have started inside the box, so maybe Liverpool should have had a penalty. It was very tight though and it would have been a really bold call had Mason pointed to the spot.
GOAL! NORWICH 1-1 LIVERPOOL (DIEUMERCI MBOKANI)
Norwich level as Liverpool's Achilles' heel strikes again. They have conceded several goals from corners this season and again this goal comes from a set piece. The initial delivery was half-cleared and Norwich got it back in the box. Mbokani received the ball with his back to goal far too easily and then produced a really clever backheeled finish from eight yards. It was pretty central, but so well-struck that Mignolet could not react in time.
Here's the moment Firmino put the visitors in front, his third goal in three appearances after just one in 24 before that

Howson does brilliantly to rob Can on the edge of the Norwich box and then surge past two challenges in midfield to break into the visitors' half. He finds Mbokani down the left and big striker gets it back to Howson with a dinked through-ball before Liverpool clear for a corner.
Ooooh Milner you lucky boy! Sakho heads the corner more up than away and Naismith is chasing it down when Milner appears to barge into the Scot right on the edge of the box. Mason could have pointed to the spot there, although as we've seen Liverpool could have had a penalty as well, so I guess that's even now.

Corner number three for Norwich as Clyne tackles Brady. This one, however, comes to nothing.
GOAL! NORWICH 2-1 LIVERPOOL (STEVEN NAISMITH)
A debut goal for the former Everton man! It's some finish from the Scot as he pings it across goal from a tight angle and just inside the post, but if I was a Liverpool fan I would be furious. Both Can and Lucas stood like statues as Naismith ran into the box to collect Hoolahan's pass and then smack it into the corner. From that angle, though, Mignolet should be saving it.
Norwich fully deserve their lead, by the way. Apart from the goal, Liverpool have done very little and been particularly bad in midfield. Given Klopp's team selection, you would have expected the visitors to patiently pass it about, but they have had less possession (47%) than the Canaries.
Two minutes of added time and Klopp will no doubt be keen to get this half out of the way. His side have been pretty dreadful.
HALF-TIME: NORWICH 2-1 LIVERPOOL
Bar one defensive lapse of concentration, Norwich have been excellent in the opening period. They are beating Liverpool at their own game with lots of high pressing and superb movement. Naismith has been everywhere and capped the first half of his Norwich career with a well-taken goal.
Klopp will not be happy in the Reds' dressing room and it really wouldn't surprise me if Benteke was brought on at half time. Something has to change for Liverpool. We'll be back shortly for the second 45.
Welcome back folks. The news at the start of the second half is that no changes have been made. Really surprised by that.
KICKOFF! Aaand we're back underway.
Superb finish!

CHANCE! Good start to the half by Norwich and they threaten a third goal as Mbokani picks out Pinto on the right side of the box. Mignolet rushes out, so Pinto goes for a chip, but he's off-balance and it floats out for a goal kick.
PENALTY TO NORWICH! Moreno brings down Naismith!
GOAL! NORWICH 3-1 LIVERPOOL (WES HOOLAHAN, PEN.)
The Canaries go two up as Hoolahan dinks his penalty just over the dive of Mignolet. Naismith won the penalty and although he fell theatrically, I'm not sure what Moreno was doing. He slid in recklessly and got away with it but then got up and bundled into Naismith from behind.
GOAL! NORWICH 3-2 LIVERPOOL (JORDAN HENDERSON)
Liverpool hit straight back as Henderson sweeps home after being left all alone in the box. Clyne crossed it in and Firmino got a slight cushion on the ball to tee up his captain. Game on!
LIVERPOOL SUB: It's not Benteke, but Lallana who comes on. Ibe has been quite bright and it's a surprise to see him taken off.
GOAL! NORWICH 3-3 LIVERPOOL (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
What a game at Carrow Road! Liverpool draw level at 3-3 and it's more shocking defending as Lallana picks out the completely-unmarked Firmino in the middle. The ball is bouncing and the Brazilian easily dinks it over Rudd. Ten minutes ago it was 3-1 and seemingly game over, but what a half an hour or so we have on our hands now!
#clinical

Redmond floats over a free kick from the right that Bassong meets powerfully, but he was about 15 yards out and to beat Mignolet from there would have been quite something.
NORWICH SUBS: Redmond and Hoolahan off, Jarvis and Olsson on.
Will we get a winner?

SHOT! Liverpool on top now and they will fancy their chances of winning this game. Neat football down the left results in Moreno being teed up for a shot and he tests Rudd with a low drive. Benteke coming on shortly...
GOAL! NORWICH 3-4 LIVERPOOL (JAMES MILNER)
Three goals in 20 minutes as Liverpool complete a remarkable turnaround! It's awful again from Norwich as Martin doesn't see Milner and backpasses straight to the midfielder. He has a free run at goal and waits and waits before shifting the ball to the right and coolly slotting home.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Benteke replaces Henderson, although his goalscoring is no longer needed.
We haven't had a yellow card yet today and I'm not quite sure how Moreno hasn't got one here. He's already committed a few fouls, including for the penalty, and cynically took out Jarvis.
Norwich look really flat at the moment and Neil is preparing to bring on Cameron Jerome. People will look at the scoreline and think this must have been a brilliant game, but it's been punctuated by awful defending from both teams. Hardly a Premier League showcase.
NORWICH SUB: Naismith's impressive debut is over as Jerome takes his place in attack.
Firmino is on a hat-trick and test Rudd with a low shot from 20 yards. Easy save for the Norwich keeper.
It's gone very, very quiet at Carrow Road and you have to say that Liverpool have done well to suck the life out of this game since retaking the lead for the first time since Firmino's opener. How long ago does that seem now?!
LIVERPOOL SUB: Third and final change for the Reds, with Steven Caulker on for Moreno to shore up the backline.
FIVE minutes of added time. Plenty for Norwich to grab a leveller.
GOAL! NORWICH 4-4 LIVERPOOL (SEBASTIAN BASSONG)
Wow! Centre-back Bassong takes a swipe at the ball on the half-volley 25 yards and catches it so sweetly. Mignolet can do nothing about this time as the ball flies past him into the bottom corner. Norwich have surely earned a point! What a game!
GOAL! NORWICH 4-5 LIVERPOOL (ADAM LALLANA)
What on earth is going on?! Liverpool win it in the final minute of stoppage time as Lallana volleys the ball into the turf and up into the far corner. Barmy!
FULL-TIME: NORWICH 4-5 LIVERPOOL
Goodness me! What an incredible finish. That is one of the best worst games you will ever see. The defending was atrocious from both teams, but it is Liverpool who go home happy having scored four goals in the second half to come back from 3-1 down.
What it all means is that Liverpool are up to seventh for the time being. We've got to bring this commentary to an end, but do click around for plenty more live Premier League action as plenty more happens at 3pm. Enjoy!
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