Norwich 0-1 Liverpool: Sadio Mane strikes as Premier League leaders continue where they left off after mid-season break
A moment of magic from Sadio Mane was all Liverpool needed to fend off both Storm Dennis and Norwich for a 1-0 Premier League win at Carrow Road.
The fit-again Senegal forward climbed off the bench to poke home his 12th league goal of the campaign and extend champions-elect Liverpool's winning streak to 17 top-flight matches.
The runaway leaders inched closer to a first title since 1990 by grinding out a nervy win, amid howling winds and driving rain.
Jurgen Klopp's men are now just one victory away from matching Manchester City's Premier League record of 18 successive wins.
For much of a weather-ruined clash the Reds feared a first league draw since the 1-1 tie with Manchester United on October 20, only for super sub Mane to deliver in style.
The match's sole moment of quality proved a fine way for Mane to mark his first Liverpool action since hobbling out of the Reds' 2-1 win at Wolves on January 23.
Read: When will Liverpool win the Premier League title and how many records can they break?
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- Liverpool have now won 17 Premier League games in a row, matching their best ever winning streak in league football last set between March and October 2019, and just one shy of Manchester City’s all-time English top-flight record of 18 between August and December 2017.
- Liverpool have opened the scoring in each of their last 14 Premier League meetings with Norwich City; no side has ever scored the opening goal in more consecutive games versus another in the competition’s history (Chelsea also 14 v Portsmouth).
- Norwich have only won one of their last 13 Premier League games (D5 L7) and have failed to score in back-to-back league matches for the first time since November 2019.
- Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their last 11 Premier League matches, this after having only kept one shutout in the previous 11 such games before this.
- Sadio Mané scored the 100th goal of his English club career in all competitions, scoring 25 for Southampton and 75 for current club Liverpool.
- Sadio Mané’s goal was his 57th in the Premier League for Liverpool, but the first of those to come as a substitute.
- Jordan Henderson has assisted five Premier League goals this season; only in 2014-15 (nine) and 2013-14 (seven) has he provided more in a single league season in his professional career.
- Both of Liverpool's last two Premier League games have been goalless at half-time; only two of their first 24 such matches of the season had been 0-0 at the break before this.
- Norwich failed to attempt a single shot in the first half of a league game for the first time under Daniel Farke, and the first time in any league match overall since April 2014 v Man Utd.
AS IT HAPPENED
Live blog by George Pitts
1921: FULL-TIME - Norwich 0-1 Liverpool
That's that. Sadio Mane's 78th-minute goal is the winner at Carrow Road. Five wins to go for the Reds. The perfect way to return from their mid-season break.
TWENTY-FIVE POINTS CLEAR! Ludicrous.
Thanks for joining us for coverage! Report, reaction and statistics to follow...
1919: Three minutes added on (0-1)
What a time it would be to strike now.
1916: Norwich chance! (0-1)
With just a minute of ordinary time left on the clock, Teemu Pukki, who caused the Reds issues in the reverse fixture at Anfield, is put through by Emiliano Buendia.
The Finnish forward, running away from Virgil van Dijk, fires a shot down the throat of Alisson.
1911: Goal replay (0-1)
As James Milner replaces Naby Keita, here is another look at the goal:
1904: GOAL! Norwich 0-1 Liverpool (Mane)
VAR check complete - looking for a push by Mane in the build-up.
The super sub nets his 100th goal in English football as Norwich get punished during their promising spell.
The Senegal forward did not head it in though as we hoped. Henderson clips a long diagonal over, Mane brings it down brilliantly with an outstretched leg and gets the shot off on the turn. Classy.
1900: POST! (0-0)
A great spell for the Canaries now - Alex Tettey nearly catches Alisson out with a strike that crashes against the post.
They keep the pressure on as the home crowd urge them on with 'YELLOWS! YELLOWS! YELLOWS!'
There is a worry that with this spell, they gain confidence and throw the bus at it, leaving themselves open at the back with Liverpool then punishing them. Danger.
Around 15 minutes to go here.
1856: The tip is not looking good (0-0)
This fixture had all the makings for goals, so obviously we backed over 3.5...
That was before we knew how much the break would affect both teams. Credit to Norwich too, of course.
We did tip Mane to get a header and now he is on so fingers crossed - that was 17/2 pre-match.
1845: Krul saves! And again! And again! (0-0)
You don't see enough teams try their luck from distance nowadays. But it sets up nicely for Naby Keita from around 20 yards, he puts his laces through it and Dutch goalkeeper Krul, with Ronald Koeman in the stands, tips it over the bar.
He then saves a fairly powerless header by Virgil van Dijk from the resulting corner.
If that was not enough, as I type Salah hit a low, powerful shot inside the box and Krul got down well to parry it. Keita followed it up and Krul pounces to block his rebound. Excellent.
The Norwich players celebrate with him like it was a penalty save.
Liverpool act by replacing Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Fabinho and Sadio Mane respectively.
1839: Good from Norwich (0-0)
Nice build-up play from the hosts, patient passing and moving before Cantwell found space on the right of the box, shooting while off balance and firing into the side netting.
Interesting to look at the post-break games so far - Wolves v Leicester looked like it had potential for goals and that was 0-0, Southampton v Burnley was 1-2 but one goal was a freak strike and Southampton should have got something from the game, while this is so far goalless.
It may benefit them in the long run but so far it looks to have hampered the teams so far.
1832: SECOND HALF
We are back underway in Norfolk. Let's hope for entertainment, if not goals!
1826: SKY BET PRICE BOOSTS
- Liverpool to win 2-0 - 5/1
- Roberto Firmino to score the 1st goal - 5/1
- Alexander Tettey to be carded - 11/2
- Virgil van Dijk to score a header - 9/1
- Teemu Pukki to score the 1st goal - 12/1
1817: HALF-TIME - Norwich 0-0 Liverpool
That is the break. So far, so good for the hosts, who have dealt with the Reds pretty well. The only disappointment will be losing Sam Byram through injury.
1812: Can Norwich hold on until half-time? (0-0)
Liverpool have a free-kick on the right and Alexander-Arnold's delivery is Beckham-like, striking the ball so well and whipping it in but Krul gathers. Liverpool ramping it up ahead of half-time
1805: Fantastic save! (0-0)
A long diagonal ball over the top cuts open Liverpool and finds Lukas Rupp through on goal, Alisson comes out and as McLean squares it to Teemu Pukki, the Brazilian dives and makes the interception. Last ditch, top drawer.
A warning sign for Klopp's side. Nine until the break.
1754: Norwich change (0-0)
Same Byram pulls up after picking up a muscular injury with an outstretched leg. Jamal Lewis comes on in his place.
We have seen a few injuries post mid-season break - possibly an issue for others' medical teams to consider when returning to action. Although I am no expert.
1747: Settling into the game (0-0)
The game is 18 minutes old now and Liverpool are taking hold. Not in terms of chances, but with possession and controlling the temp of the game.
1740: Liverpool's switch still working (0-0)
The Reds often like to switch play across field and, despite the weather, the long passes are still on.
A raking ball down the middle finds Firmino, whose first touch in the box is sublime with his back to goal. Excellent defending as the ball is cleared by Zimmermann before the Brazilian can pull the trigger.
1737: Oxlade-Chamberlain shoots (0-0)
Mo Salah looks dangerous as he comes inside in the final third, his pass ricochets on the edge of the box, falling to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whose shot is tame and trickles into the hands of Tim Krul.
Norwich have their first attack at the other end, they play some good stuff but Todd Cantwell cannot make space for himself as Alexander-Arnold deals with it well.
1731: Instant chance (0-0)
Liverpool's first effort comes inside 30 seconds as Trent Alexander-Arnold flashes a shot across goal and wide of the target.
1730: KICK-OFF!
The visitors get us underway. Carrow Road in fine form this evening.
1727: Here come the teams!
Kick-off is moments away.
Can Norwich produce a similar performance to their 3-2 victory over Man City at Carrow Road? Stick with us to find out.
1715: Match preview
History shows Norwich v Liverpool regularly produces goals. It was 4-1 at Anfield in the reverse fixture, the last meeting in Norfolk was 4-5 (remember when Klopp broke his glasses celebrating their winner?), there was also that spell where Luis Suarez loved coming up against Norwich. In 13/14 Liverpool won the fixtures 2-3 and 5-1, in 12/13 they won 5-0 and 5-2 and in 11/12 won 3-0, again in Norwich.
Granted, this is a far different team but football has strange ways of history repeating itself. There was a temptation to back the visitors to score four or more at 11/4, but there is value in the overs market.
With these margins in mind, and Norwich's home fixtures against the big guns, backing over 3.5 goals at 11/8 is incredibly appealing. Over 4.5 at 10/3 is tempting, but the former is preferred. This one even plays into the hands of a 1-3 scoreline.
With Liverpool well rested, it is expected they will be fresh rather than sluggish and hopefully that will translate into a goal-fest in Norfolk.
In addition to this thinking, a nice one to consider for a small play in the goalscorer markets is on Sadio Mane to find the back of the net with a header.
The Senegal forward may be just 5ft 8in but he has attempted more headed shots than any other Liverpool player this season. He has 17 - the next best is, you guessed it, Virgil van Dijk with 11 - and he averages nearly one per game in the league.
He has a knack of making late runs at the far post and being in and around the action in the six-yard box to get any loose balls, often with his head.
Mane often scored with this method last season and at 17/2 to get a headed goal here, it is a nice price on someone who is pretty short in the anytime market - providing he starts after injury last month.
Prediction: Norwich 1-4 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 16/1)
Best bets:
1710: TEAM NEWS
Naby Keita gets his first start for Liverpool since Boxing Day, with our goalscorer tip Sadio Mane on the bench (☹️) while Norwich are unchanged with Kenny McLean making his 50th appearance for the club.
1700: GOOD EVENING 👋
Hello!
Welcome to our live blog for the evening Premier League game, as Norwich return from the mid-season break with a tough clash against unbeaten leaders Liverpool.
It will certainly be interesting to see how both sides cope - will they be fresh legged or more heavy legged from such a rest?
Either is possible and you will find out by staying with us for coverage of the Carrow Road clash.
I am George Pitts, here to provide you with the updates, stats, latest odds and occasional in-play tip - and plenty more!
Thanks for joining us on a horrendous day with Storm Dennis. Sit back, relax and enjoy following as the action unfolds.
We will bring you our tip for the clash shortly, but first, team news...
Get in touch with us by tweeting @SportingLifeFC or @GeorgePitts_ (be nice!)
PREVIEW: Goals on the menu at Carrow Road
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