Is a Liverpool win over Norwich a formality?

By This Is Anfield On · 35 Comments · In LFC News

Norwich find themselves in a very respectable 9th place in the league and have been playing some decent football and battling hard. But their league position is courtesy of home victories over Swansea and Sunderland and an away win at Bolton.

They aren’t struggling to create chances either, with 33 on target attempts from their first 8 premiership matches compared to Liverpool’s 40.

With recent home league matches ending 2-1, 3-1 and two 1-1 draws, maybe those looking for a good correct score bet should include a Norwich goal. 3-1 at 10/1 could be the value bet.

With many of Liverpool’s goals coming late on and many of Norwich’s coming early there could be some value bets in the half time/full time markets. Draw half time, Liverpool full time is best priced 7/2 (far better than just 3/10 Liverpool to win!). Or even a shock half time lead for Norwich to be comfortably over turned. Norwich to lead at Half Time, Liverpool to win looks a very big 28/1 in the online betting odds.

Am I talking rubbish? Do you know better? Enter your predictions for free at OLBG.com and you could share in the £3000 + monthly cash prizes. Join OLBG here for free.

Click the bookmaker logo to receive the best odds on your selection and a generous free bet:

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1370140322 Richard Mcgill

    We have to beat teams like Norwich to get a european spot. lets build a consistent level of football

  • Darryl_w

    The Simple answer is no, no match is a forgone conclusion, if it were there would be no point in playing the match, Norwich have the players and manager to ’cause an upset’, what LFC has to start doing is coming out of the blocks quickly and start attacking from the whistle, if we do this and sustain the pressure there’s not a team in the land that we can not score against. Too often though we go through the motions until someone looks at the clock and scoreboard with 20 minutes to play and realise that it’s still 0-0, then we decide to attack by which time it may all be in vein, using all 3 substitutes and allowing them to have at least 10-15 minutes on the pitch will help us to sustain momentum and replace tired legs.

    No Lucas today due to suspension, so I hope that Henderson starts in the middle with Downing being given a free role between the wings and through the middle.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_X5CX25AU3ROVDAHOAWU2IX7DHI Anonymous

    No! Will be lucky to get away with a draw…

  • Saraceninc

    Looks like we are lukcy to be drawing a few minutes before the end. Well that dexcribes this season, same old routiine draw with all mid table teams at ome and lose away and dream of fourth. With such a great squad KK how come we are not? Maybe not such a great sqaud afterall. No wingres and one striker, mediocre midfield and shaky goalkeeper in the air, reina has been a great flapper of the ball, maybe Doudeck should giive him some tips

    • Helias

      Perhaps the team needs some refresh. We had better performance during the second round last year when KK took over. I guess is matter of phsycology 

  • Darryl_w

    1-1 Carroll should have been on at least 10 minutes earlier and Maxi should have come on for Kuyt, a defender for an attacker as your last roll of the dice?, strikers need playing time and confidence, right now Carroll must be feeling pretty low, good to see Bellamy start and score, with a fully fit squad we need to be doing better, I think we’d have won this if it were played 2-3 weeks from now with Gerrard back in full swing, we are crying out for another natural winger who can help stretch and unlock opposing defences.

    • Saraceninc

      Agree, we need real wingers, not make shift slow midfield players that cost 20 mil ++. Also agree that we should play to win and be more assertive in the formation. However, I think Kenny knows deep down that the whole team is unreliable and therefore does not take what he percieves as risks. As to whether we would win in 2-3 weks , maybe, but unfortunatley today is what matters , and another two points lost at home. Great to see Nwcastle go forward with no 20 mill +++ premadonas.

      • Darryl_w

        I was thinking about Newcastle the other day, strange that we take what were possibly their 2 best players and even though they’ve not spent much (if any) money from these sales it is Newcastle FC that sit in one of the champions league spots right now and not LFC. Football is a funny old game.

  • muloolah aydal

    L.Suarez was indeed the best on the pitch against Norwich today,but the worst kop on the pitch was Johnson. The goal came from his area. He did not mark his man well,he lost many header. He plays also very awfully on a counter attack. He sprints then he always pass the ball backward,what’s the use of launching a counter then?! whenever the team accelerates,he slow the pace. Flanagan plays better than him. The best right-back that Liverpool possess at this time is none than Kelly.

    • near

      johnson was good in my opinion. more confident, better with the ball. overall, better than kelly or flano. 

      how is suarez the best man? did you count how many chances he missed today? and his rants for the officials is getting annoying. 
      we need a pure goalscorer. 

      why do downing has to cut in everytime he got the ball? learn a few things from nani. and most of his crosses was terrible.

      the goal was reina’s fault. two defs coming for the ball, he should’ve stood his ground.

      gerard lazy at times. 

      • Ianmjon

        Totally agree suarez needs to be far more clinical, he gets in great positions but wastes far too many chances. He is a fantastic player and movement first class but that is my sore point with him. 

        • near

          suarez dont have to be clinical…providing assists/opening up play should be his priority…. hes a #7, not a #9 or #10. right?

          • Ianmjon

            yes he does have to be more clinical that is his job, a striker, at the moment he is not converting for the amount of chances he is getting and if you look around on other forums there are quite a lot of people that agree

      • Saraceninc

        I like these comments, do keep in my mind that Suarez cost us about 23 mil and has done very well so far, what about these other charecters like Henderson 20 mil. Downing 22 mil and Carol 35 mil. When are they accountable? At least Suarez comes close, these aguys aren’t even near the action. Not critical of old Bellamy, he was free. Sorry, Steve was great, but I think he has passed his best. Reina gets much adulation, no idea why, just watch hime whenever a corner comes over and we all pray! Defence is begining to look the old guard under Benitez when they marked each other.

        • near

          in all fairness, Caroll only get 10+ minutes, and he came close to score/assist for at least 3 times. thats good enough for me (for now)..

          suarez should understand that the other person he want to be on his side, other than his own teammates is the officials. ranting and arguing against all their decision will not help this cause. he should learn to respect them, back their judgements, and in turn, they just might be on your side…. Xabi Alonso is the master of this. think of how many red/yellow cards he generated..MANY!. did he ever curse an official? NEVER! 

          suarez needs more discipline and Caroll needs more gametime. 
          coates to replace carra…
          bellamy to play striker.

          • Justice

            In all fairness Caroll is a mediocre player that why he’s on the bench together with Henderson. I’m not sure why Adams and Downing are on the pitch. They do not even belong to the bench of LFC.  What were Mr. Daglish thinking when he sold Meireles and loaned Aquilani. These two player (although not super stars) are millions times better than Henderson, Adams and Downing. Is it bias towards British players? Suarez is the only player providing some excitement in LFC’s attack.

          • near

            caroll got 11 goals in 18 matches for Newcastle during 10/11 season. 

            that is not mediocre.

          • Justice

            Means nothing. Depends on how many chances from teammates he got. Also he is not able to repeat. This means more than mediocrity. He’s probably not worth more than 1 million pounds at best.  LFC paid 35 times this figure. What a waste. We could have gotten at least two super starts for that kind of money. Camolli and Dalglish should have been fired for that alone.

      • nine-ja-scouse

        As a top striker, Suarez needs to hone his clinical finishing skills
        When Carol came in he played behind Suarez and I think it should have been the other way round (Suarez provider and Carol finisher) 
        Downing is a left footer and when you place him on the right he will always cut in and the plan was to make him cut into the right channel, then create room for an over lapping Johnson to attack the by-line this did not work out.I’d have loved to see earlier substitutions from the half hour mark especially when Norwich were on the ascendancy.Gerrard’s talent is wasted (imho) when he is involved in screening the back 4. Perhaps, perhaps Spearing might have taken that position and Gerrard had taken the place of Kuyt? in a more forward position.At the end of the day, with the player and tactical options they he have on hand it is up to the coaching crew on what to deploy.

  • Justice

    It is now obvious that this is another mediocre LFC team with a mediocre coach. Time is up for a really big change starting from the coach. We need someone who understands modern football and recognize real talent. Someone who is able to purchase really good players, and do not overpay for mediocre ones like Daglish did. Daglish belongs to the past. He was the king of the past. LFC and fans have to move on. I do hope that the owner realizes that and acts before another season is gone down the drain!

    • Geoff

      Are you a shadow dweller?

  • Dawnielee69

    I was disheartened after todays game so many chances missed again. Im sorry to say where not as good as Kenny likes to think we our. Im fed up with the complete dominance of the first 45mins of our games and yet again only 1goal to show for it. Games our won by goals and not hard look stories. I know Suarez is a fantastic player but we seem to be relying on him to much, nearly every pass was directed in his direction even when other players had at times better options ie downing had a couple of openings to have a shot but instead opted to pass instead and when we had a free kick just outside the area on the lefthand side our best left sided dead ball specialist Adam wasint deployed it was Downing who unconvincingly hit it right into the wall of players i for the life of me just dont understand why Adam is on the playing field if where not going to use him for his strengths?. Bellamy was taken off and im sorry but Downing again looks like he lacks confidence in his own abilitys i think Bellamy should have stayed on and Downing substituted. We need to start finnishing games off it should have been a route again today in this game yet again another 2points lost in my opinion. If things dont change and quickly we will not be looking at chapions league football next season it will be just another under achieving year once again. Sorry but todays opposition are not good enough to be given a point away to at our own ground. just one word to explain how i felt after todays game gutted.!!!!!!!

  • Karl

    time to be honest with ourselves and look at troubling truths.
    1. Currently the team are not clinical – they don’t kill of games by scoring goals. Admit it how many yesterday when the first went in still felt we need a second? Leading me to point 2
    2. The defence is a shambles – holes everywhere and much as he is a legend Carra is part of the problem these days. We need defenders who can defend. A truism about the game is “If you don’t concede the worst you can end up with is a draw!”
    3. Some of the buys whilst they may come good I don’t see value for money presently in Henderson (especially when compared with similar priced youngster at the other end of the east lancs rd) or Carroll (lucky Chelsea paid for him given his current return rate)

    The owners have kept their part of the bargain (funding and returning to the Liverpool way of managing the club), the fans are doing their part its time for the players and coaching staff to sort  themselves out.

    That said the price of football these days meaning I pay to be entertained and my age meaning I can now accept that other teams can do well against us I feel the game was exciting and value for money.

    Did Norwich deserve a point? – yes because they scored an equaliser.
    Did Liverpool deserve to win? – no because they also scored once. However,
    Were Liverpool unlucky not to score more – yes they were but in a suitable way it leads you back to point one above.

  • Saraceninc

    The facts remain, that any reasonable analysis will suggest that on a numerical value the team is:
    Reina: 4
    Caraghar: 6 ( slowing down now)
    Skirtle: 5 ( too many free kicks given prone to being sent off)
    Johnson: 3
    Jose: 7
    Lucas: 5
    Adams 5
    Gerrad: 6
    Henderon : 1
    Downing: 4
    Kuyt: 5 ( Greatest worker though)
    carrol: 2
    Suarez: 8 ( poor support foir him, only real threat in the whole team)

    Too bad Merieles and Aquilani left as they were creaive players now substitited by mediocrity at best. Previously Torres at his best 8, Mascherano: 7, Alonso : 8, Arbeloa: 7, Reira: 6, aqulani ( little seen) but: 6, Mereiles: 7. 

    The sums speak volumes. Many might disagree, but this is an opinion.

    • Justice

      I agree. It is the sad truth. Camolli and Dalglish should be fired for squandering millions of pounds on mediocre players (Caroll, Henderson, Adams, Downing). Imagine the players we could have gotten for the money spent on these.  Anybody who know a little about football would have done a much better job buying players. What a waste!

      • Geoff

        Is your post serious or are you just joking around?

        You think we should sack Damien and Kenny? 9 games into the season? 

        The mind boggles……..

    • seth

      9 games in and we look like a 6th place team, if we can catch Newcastle.  arsenal are winning tough games again, we don’t have the pace or technique to play with spurs let alone in europe, and the distance from the top 3 is greater than it has been in memory.  FSG must open the purse in January or risk falling completely off the champions league pace, and possibly risk losing our best player next summer.  at the least we need a striker who knows where the goal is and who can play of luis, and a right side attacker who actually can scare defenses.  and some steel at the back. 

    • Geoff

      It is YOUR opinion but I think the vast majority of people involved in football throughout Europe would simply laugh if you rated Reina as a 4. 

      And who is Adams? We have no player by that name….

      So you don’t think Gerrard is a threat? Or Kuyt? Bellamy maybe?

      You give henderson a 1…….. you my friend are clueless….

  • Justice

    BTW I just read on caughtoffside that LFC is interested in Rodallega for 6m pds!! I guess that is the solution to our problems up front according to Mr. Dalglish! At this rate clubs from the PL should line up their mediocre players for a big sell to LFC at very inflated prices.

  • Darryl_w

    1-6 the best result I’ve seen since we kicked their butts a couple of seasons ago, how does it feel Fergie?

  • sideshow_bob

    Personally, I think we should all start getting used to this inconsistency. The club wants to follow the Arsenal model, but other than Champions League qualification, what real success has that actually brought to them. In fact, you could argue that Liverpool’s success under Rafa was an aberration caused by the club managing to keep hold of a genuinely world class player during the peak of his career.

    • Darryl_w

      We’ve got another one now in the form of Suarez, but we have to add true quality on the wings in order to truly see the best of him, not that he’s not playing very well even without this support, playing with 2 defensive midfielders is stupid, it’s like playing with 7 defenders (Including the GK), leaving only 4 full-time attackers, Scum Utd were destroyed today by a team that’s spent approximately £300 million during the last 2 windows, this compares to our £100 million or so, I really don’t think we need to spend £200 million before we can challenge, but focusing on giving us more attacking options and more class will help us bridge the gap, we’re heading in the right direction, but we’ve got some way to go yet.

      • seth

        hate to keep invoking bad luck because our finishing has been so poor, but with just a few more goals we are in the points with everyone but City, who looked rather amazing today, must say.  darryl that is gross spend, too.  our net spend is probably even less in comparison.  january window will test FSG’s real commitment.  they can be forgiven for wanting to see a return from carroll, downing and henderson, but if they don’t put a goal scorer and a dangerous RM in the team in january I don’t see 4th place this season from this team.  a striker who knows where the goal is will take pressure off luis, and then we’ll see his best, I imagine.

        • Darryl_w

          Money does not always buy success, look at Newcastle, very little (if any spending) over the past 2 windows, we’ve taken 2 of their best players off of their hands and they are above us, I think we need to be playing more through the middle of the park right now as we only have one natural winger in Downing, it’s not ideal, but if we play to our strengths then we should start getting better results. Scum Utd were destroyed yesterday, if we’d had a 3-1 with only time added on to play we’d have probably settled for the 3 points, Man City were truly awesome and ruthless in this time, so much so that they doubled what they’d scored in the first 90 minutes, we have to be more clynical, play more offensively and improve our goal difference.

          We’ve scored just over a third of the amount of goals this season then Man City, if we have true aspirations of getting a title under our belts any time soon we need more players of the quality of Suarez, otherwise I fear he’ll do a Torres on us and unlike Torres he’ll have no problem settling in on any team in the world.

          I very much agree about filling the RM position, not totally sure we need another striker as we do have 4 that can play there, alhtough 2 of those are over 30, but as with everything in football is depends on who’s available and how much money you’re willing to spend to how much you’re given to spend, creativity, leadership and a general all-round midfielder would be great though, but we’ve got at least another 2 and a bit months yet before the window opens and I’d really like to see us get at least 2 deals done and dusted ready for transfer come the 1st January.

  • Carrot Cruncher

    I think the referee should be sacked and the match re-played. Surely don’t people realise that all the Liverpool team need to do is turn up at Anfield, possibly shake hands with the opposition (who to be honest should really appreciate how lucky they are), and then the team can warm down and go home with another three points in the bag. There is no way that it should be allowed that they come and actually try and play football, and then think they should actually be given a point for their efforts?? No, as we have more money than them a bigger ground and we used to be quite good some 10-20 years ago it should be made illegal for them to even think thet they might get something. That is why we should ban promotion/relegation to stop upstarts like these carrot crunchers ruining our party. We are Liverpool and have a divine right to win (even though our best player only spends half of the game on his feet – they should also be banned from tackling him. ), and remember that while these stupid rules appy allowing other teams to come here, if we do’t actually win it is nothing to do with them and purely down to us playing badly.