Norwich City V Liverpool: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Liverpool travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City, still looking for their first Premier League win of 2016.
Jurgen Klopp's side have just two wins in their last eight league games, while the Canaries have lost their last three games in all competitions and conceded three in each game.
So it's fair to say neither side is in good form, and both are desperate for a victory in the early kick-off on Saturday.
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Worryingly for Alex Neil's side, they currently have the same record at this stage as they did in their last Premier League campaign before they were relegated. It's for that reason that they've been one of the more active teams in the transfer market so far, acquiring forward Steven Naismith, right-back Ivo Pinto and centre-back Timm Klose.
Pinto's arrival means Liverpool loanee Andre Wisdom, who cannot feature against his parent club in this game, is even less likely to feature for Norwich in the remaining months of the season. That the clubs haven't mutually terminated the loan of the player who has started just seven league games this season is baffling.
Liverpool have enjoyed their recent encounters with Norwich and scored 22 goals in their last six Premier League games against the Norfolk side—although, 12 of those were scored by Luis Suarez.
Last time Liverpool played at Carrow Road was in April 2014 when Brendan Rodgers' side were title favourites and secured a 3-2 win. The front three that day were Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. How times change.
This corresponding fixture saw the two teams share the points in a 1-1 draw at Anfield in September. Danny Ings put Liverpool ahead, but Russell Martin became one of the first of many players to benefit from a Simon Mignolet error off a corner to equalise.
Date: Saturday, 22 January, 2016
Time: 12.45 p.m. GMT/6.45 a.m. ET
Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich
TV Info: BT Sport (UK), NBCSN (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport (UK) / NBCSN Live Extra (U.S.)
Form Lines
Norwich City
Lost 3-0 vs. Bournemouth
Lost 3-1 vs. Stoke City
Lost 3-0 vs. Manchester City (FA Cup)
Won 1-0 vs. Southampton
Won 2-0 vs. Aston Villa
Liverpool
Won 3-0 vs. Exeter City (FA Cup)
Lost 1-0 vs. Man United
Drew 3-3 vs. Arsenal
Drew 2-2 vs. Exeter City (FA Cup)
Won 1-0 vs. Stoke City (League Cup)
Team News
For Norwich, Neil must decide whether to include new boys Pinto, Klose and Naismith. Pinto could replace Martin at right-back, while Ryan Bennett would likely be the man to miss out if Klose comes straight into the team.
Midfielder Gary O'Neil is suspended for the home side.
Liverpool have no players back from injury, meaning they're without Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel, Philippe Coutinho, Divock Origi, Sturridge and Ings. Adam Lallana is a doubt with a small muscle injury.
Predicted Lineups
Norwich: Rudd, Martin, Klose, Bassong, Brady, Redmond, Tettey, Howson, Jarvis, Naismith, Mbokani.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Henderson, Milner, Firmino, Ibe.
Players to Watch
Norwich: Steven Naismith
The Canaries have been one of the most active teams in the transfer window so far and spent £8 million to acquire Naismith earlier this week—which isn't quite enough to eclipse their previous record signing of Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
Naismith brings plenty of quality and experience to Neil's side and is expected to go straight into the starting XI for a match against former club Everton's nearest rivals. The Scotsman says he's fit and ready to make an impact.
"He [Neil] wants me to just play like I have done for Everton and obviously he’s known me for a long time so I’m confident he knows what I can bring to the team and just go and help Norwich progress," said Naismith when he was unveiled at Carrow Road this week, per Eastern Daily Press.
Liverpool: Jordan Henderson
Liverpool missed captain Jordan Henderson more than they realised in the four months he was sidelined with a foot injury, but the England international is fully fit again and will be key for Klopp's side over the final months of the campaign.
Against Manchester United last week, Henderson was guilty of being over eager to lead his side, resulting in an impression of the bad side of Steven Gerrard, with daft long-range shots creeping into his play. Against Norwich, Henderson needs to be more composed and lead his side with a level head.
Key Battle: Finishing
Both sides have struggled for goals this season, Norwich's top goalscorer in the league is Nathan Redmond with just four, while Liverpool's is Christian Benteke with just six. At over halfway into the campaign that's not great reading for either side.
Liverpool have scored 25 goals, which is just one more than their relegation-threatened opponents here.
Klopp is likely to revert to Roberto Firmino up front in place of Christian Benteke—who assisted two against Exeter City in the week but missed half-a-dozen very presentable chances and was often in poor positions when players had the ball out wide.
Norwich have Dieumerci Mbokani and Cameron Jerome as their forward options—both are physical players, against which Liverpool often struggle. Alternatively, Neil could field Naismith in a false-nine position up front.
As well as finishing, Liverpool's Achilles heel of set pieces will be worth watching, with Norwich no doubt feeling they can benefit as they did in the corresponding fixture at Anfield.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Norwich: Evens
Liverpool: 333/100
Draw: 127/50
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the Norwich City website.
