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Liverpool took three much-needed points away at Carrow Road against Norwich City from an extremely scintillating, goal fest of a match which was all about scoring and equalising.With this win, Liverpool moved to 7th place - five points short of the top four. The result means that Liverpool received their first victory of the league in the month.Although it was Norwich who were being more attacking initially, Liverpool scored the opening goal. Norwich led 2-1 at half time after which the goal fest began.Norwich scored in the 54th minute and were 3-1 when Liverpool started their equalising business. Five goals were scored after that in a span of 40 minutes. An insane last-minute winner from substitute Adam Lallana was enough to have Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp run down the sidelines to celebrate the victory with his team. Here are the major talking points of the match:
#1 Woeful Liverpool defence
I don’t remember the last time Liverpool had a strong defence per se. Probably when Agger and Carragher were still in the team.
Martin Skrtel is the “senior” in Liverpool’s defence but with him being out with injury, along with Dejan Lovren who was doing well, Jurgen Klopp was forced to play his available options of Nathaniel Clyne, Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno.
It is one thing to be bad, and it’s another thing to be really abysmal and that was the case with all of Liverpool’s defenders as none of them had performed decently. For Norwich’s first goal, due to the poor defending and Sakho being left clueless, Mbokini made an incredible back-heel strike. In the second half, Moreno gave away a ridiculous and baffling penalty to Norwich City for their third.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp didn’t hesitate to bemoan his defence and rightly so referred to it as “the biggest rubbish ever.”
#2 Firmino shines in the absence of Benteke
Roberto Firmino was under criticism and doubt by Liverpool fans for starting over Belgium striker Christian Benteke. But Firmino proved Klopp’s preference of him over Benteke when he netted the opening goal of the match by finishing it smartly with his left foot after collecting Milner's pass in the box.
He kept up the attack and with a few beautiful touches, he grew into the game. He was also involved in Liverpool’s second goal by Henderson with the little touch he gave being brilliant.
Getting further involved, he scored his second and the team’s third with a great team effort and a lovely pass by Adam Lallana. Firmino has now been directly involved in 5 goals in his last 3 Premier League games for Liverpool.
Making all those who slagged him off at the beginning of the match feel stupid and picking up from where he left off with his two goals against Arsenal, Firmino is one hell of a player with confidence, there’s no doubt about that.
#3 Set-pieces for Liverpool - The bogus thing
Set-pieces have always been the oh-so bogus thing for Liverpool.
Defending set-pieces is something Liverpool seems to not know how to do. At all. They’re quite like penalties to the opposition as the opposition scores from a set-piece nearly every time. Liverpool have now conceded 10 set-piece goals in the PL this season - same as the total in each of the 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2013/14 seasons.
Criticizing the defence of his team, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said, “Conceding four goals after set plays is the biggest rubbish ever. It’s too easy for the other team,” “I mean, it’s not hard to play against us. You just throw the ball over the line on a set play and something will happen.”
Adding that the only signing he perhaps needs is of a defensive set-piece specialist, Jurgen Klopp will look to sort out his defence problems and hope for the quick return of Skrtel and Lovren to strengthen their defence - in whichever small way it can be until summer.
#4 Simon Mignolet - Another shocking performance
There was shock everywhere when the news of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet signing a new 5-year contract broke out.
Supporters of the club have been wanting Mignolet out for a long time now and to have his dismal performances awarded with a new long-term five-year deal was as shocking as it could get.
Mignolet let four goals slip past him today which is horrible for any goalkeeper, irrespective of the winning result. In his last three games, he has conceded eight goals and saved only two.
There is immense doubt that the decision to reward him with a new contract was a wrong one. Hoping he still has time to prove his critics wrong, Mignolet will either improve profoundly over the next few months or will be let off this summer.
What Liverpool need is a new goalkeeper who commands his box, who will inevitably be able to save more shots than Mignolet, but also calm the defence down at set pieces.
#5 Norwich defence and attack
Just when you think Liverpool’s defence is bad, Norwich starts to challenge the thought.
It’s obviously not a good game for your defenders if you have conceded five goals. Norwich conceded four goals in 40 minutes, contributing to the match being highly exciting with the juggling between taking the lead and scoring.
Roberto Firmino scored the first goal by shooting across the approaching Declan Rudd and into the far post. Robbie Brady saved his team another goal a few minutes later when he poked the ball away from James Milner who couldn’t get it right enough to score. For the third goal, Nathaniel Clyne delivered the cross that Firmino flicked on to Jordan Henderson, who struck it into the box undetected by any defender.
After a great pass by Adam Lallana, Firmino scored his second and the team’s third. The Norwich defence faltered again when Russell Martin unintentionally put Milner through on goal with a careless backpass.
Nothing could have been done for Lallana’s clever winning goal, but the defence mistakes that led to Liverpool’s four goals is a matter of deep concern for Alex Neil.
