Adam Lallana scored in the 94th minute to give Liverpool victory in a sensational game at Norwich, featuring nine goals.
Liverpool were 3-1 down but came back to lead 4-3, only for Sebastian Bassong to level the game in the second minute of injury time.
However, Lallana had the last word to snatch all three points
just two minutes later to spark wild celebrations with manager Jurgen Klopp.
KEY MOMENTS
18’ – GOAL! Norwich 0-1 Liverpool: Firmino puts Liverpool 1-0 up. Slipped in on goal by Milner, he beats the offside trap and dribbles a shot in off the far post. Rudd got a foot to it and almost sent the shot wide, but Liverpool are ahead.
29’ – GOAL! Norwich 1-1 Liverpool: Mbokani
equalises for Norwich, bringing the ball down inside the box after a
spot of head tennis, holding off Sakho, and back-heeling between the legs of the centre-back and beyond Mignolet. That's a lovely finish. 1-1!
41’ – GOAL! Norwich 2-1 Liverpool: It's
Steven Naismith on his Norwich debut. There's half a chance as the Scot
is teed up inside the box, but his finish is exceptional, fired across
Mignolet and into the far bottom corner. 2-1 Norwich!
52’ – PENALTY – It's a penalty to Norwich after Moreno
fouls Naismith not once but twice inside the penalty area. That was
absolutely ludicrous from the full-back, who still has the cheek to look
perplexed when the referee points to the spot.
54’ – GOAL! Norwich 3-1 Liverpool: Wes Hoolahan
dinks the penalty and is relieved to see it narrowly evade the trailing
boot of the sprawling Mignolet. It's not a good penalty, but it went in
and that's what matters. Norwich are 3-1 up.
55’ – GOAL! Norwich 3-2 Liverpool: Liverpool hit back straight away. An Ibe cross is flicked on by Firmino and Jordan Henderson is left completely unmarked to finish first time into the bottom corner from right in the centre of the penalty area. 3-2.
63’ – GOAL! Norwich 3-3
Liverpool: Firmino is put clean through in acres of space and finishes
beyond Rudd to equalise for Liverpool. Norwich have thrown away a 3-1
lead.
75’ – GOAL! Norwich 3-4 Liverpool: A ridiculous back-pass by Martin puts James Milner clean through on goal and he steps on to his left foot before slotting past the onrushing Rudd. 4-3 Liverpool.
92’ – GOAL! Norwich 4-4
Liverpool: Would you believe it! Sebastien Bassong has equalised for
Norwich. A long free-kick is knocked down on the edge of the box and
Bassong drills into the bottom corner, sparking wild scenes on the pitch
and in the stands. 4-4!
94’ – GOAL! Norwich 4-5 Liverpool: Football. It really is ridiculous sometimes. Caulker
goes up top for Liverpool and manages to keep an attack alive. The ball
ricochets around the Norwich area until Adam Lallana runs onto it and
bounces a shot into the far corner beyond a despairing Rudd. 5-4!
PLAYER RATINGS
Norwich: Rudd 6; Pinto 6, Martin 3, Bassong 5, Brady 4; Redmond 4, Dorrans 5, Howson 5, Hoolahan 7; Naismith 8; Mbokani 7. Subs: Olsson 6, Jarvis 5, Jerome 5.
Liverpool: Mignolet 5; Clyne 6, Toure 5,
Sakho 5, Moreno 3; Lucas 5, Henderson 6; Can 6, Milner 6, Ibe 4; Firmino
8. Subs: Lallana 8, Benteke 6, Caulker 6.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Firmino (Liverpool) – The Brazilian was the
one lone spark in an otherwise hugely disappointing opening hour for
Liverpool and he played a key role in their recovery from 3-1 down. He’s
not a striker, that much is clear, but the summer signing is developing
into one of Liverpool’s most important players. Adam Lallana also
deserves a mention for his impact off the bench.
TALKING POINT
Can Norwich possibly recover from this? Norwich
deserved to lose this game on the strength of their kamikaze defending
alone, but the knowledge that they were the architects of their own
downfall will only make the fall-out worse. Relegation was already a big
worry for the Canaries this season, but take away an semblance of
confidence after such a gut-wrenching defeat and Alex Neil’s side must
be considered among the favourites for the drop. Were there positives?
Yes, especially Naismith. But can he alone be enough to save them?
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