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Premier League
Jan 19, 2013 at 3pm UK
 
Norwich logo

5-0

Suárez (36'), Gerrard (66'), Henderson (26'), Sturridge (59'), Bennett (74' og.)
FT(HT: 2-0)

Live Commentary: Liverpool 5-0 Norwich - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live text commentary of Liverpool's clash with Norwich City.
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Norwich City had not beaten Liverpool in their previous seven attempts before they travelled to Anfield this afternoon.

Their last victory came by way of a 1-0 victory in 1994, with Jeremy Goss scoring the only goal of the game.

The Canaries' bleak run continued as Brendan Rodgers's men put five past their opponents to lift them to seventh in the Premier League.

You can read how the action unfolded below.


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Good afternoon! Welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of the Premier League. Today we're at Anfield for Liverpool's clash with Norwich City.

The Canaries are on a poor run of form, but ended a string of four defeats with a goalless draw at home with Newcastle United in their last outing.

The Reds missed the chance to make it three wins on the spin by falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat at rivals Manchester United last Sunday. However, they are in fantastic goal-scoring form, finding the back of the net in their last 11 games. It's their best run since September 2009 (23 games).

Right, some team news just in...

LIVERPOOL: Jones; Wisdom, Johnson, Carragher, Agger; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing; Sturridge, Suarez


NORWICH: Bunn; R. Martin, R. Bennett, Turner, Garrido; E. Bennett, Johnson, Tettey, Snodgrass, Howson; Holt

Daniel Sturridge makes his first league start for Liverpool. If he scores today, he'll become the first player to find the net in his first three games for the club since Ray Kennedy in 1974.

Pepe Reina has a reported thigh problem, so Brad Jones will deputise once again. Joe Allen is rested, with Jordan Henderson coming into the starting lineup in his place.

Grant Holt leads the line for Chris Hughton's men. Jonny Howson gets a start in midfield, alongside Elliott Bennett, Bradley Johnson, Alexander Tettey and old Leeds United teammate Robert Snodgrass.

Hughton will no doubt have a specific gameplan for Luis Suarez, who has scored hat-tricks on both of his games against Norwich. If he scores another today, he'll become the first Liverpool player to score three hat-tricks against the same club. The Uruguayan is in scintillating form, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Jeremy Goss scored the winner for Norwich when they last triumphed over Liverpool in 1994. It was a 1-0 win at Anfield.

The East Anglia club have won just once on their travels this season, winning 4-3 against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

Click here for full team news from Anfield.

There'll be some focus on Luis Suarez today, possibly a bit more than normal, after he admitted to diving against Stoke earlier this week. In fairness to the Uruguayan, he has cleaned up his act in recent weeks. That was demonstrated by his goal in the 3-0 win over Sunderland, when he withstood a challenge from Carlos Cuellar to go on and find the net.

Right, time for a prediction... I'm going to go with Liverpool, and it's going to be 3-1. But no Suarez hat-trick.

This is not the only game we have for you at Sports Mole. Ohhhh no, no, no. We also have action from West Ham vs. QPR and Man City vs. Fulham. Enjoy...

Just before the teams come out, you might want to have a look at the last time Norwich triumphed on Anfield soil. It was the last game played in front of a standing Kop.



But back in the present day and the teams are emerging from the tunnel.

Pre-match handshakes are done with as 'You'll Never Walk Alone' blares around the stadium, and the teams take up their positions. We're just moments from kickoff now...

Norwich get this game underway. They're kicking towards the Kop.

Suarez stands up a cross for Downing at the back post, but the wide man can't direct his header on target. Early pressure from the home side.

Johnson drifts a cross into the box but no one can profit. It's been a bright start from Liverpool. They're pinging the ball about fluently.

Gerrard threaded a good ball through for Downing inside the box, but he mis-controls and the ball is cleared. The captain then goes wholeheartedly into a couple of good old-fashioned 50/50 challenges.

Downing has a crack from distance but it doesn't really trouble Bunn. He sees it safely wide.

Norwich have had a few more touches now, but Liverpool are still the team on top.

Suarez is dropping deep to take the ball. Everything goes through him.

SAVE! Suarez pokes the ball through for Sturridge, who hits the shot on the turn, but Bunn gets down well to save.

Suarez again in the thick of the action. He chases down a punt from Agger and cuts along the byline. He fires the ball in low at the near post, but Bunn just about deals with it... at the second attempt. No Liverpool player on hand to tap in after he initially spilled the ball.

Strong challenge from Martin on Johnson. He emerges with the ball and advances down field. Norwich trying to keep it better but they look hurried in possession.

Garrido concedes the first corner of the game.

It's taken short to Henderson, and eventually worked to Gerrard who is rushing into the box... but it doesn't really sit kindly for him and the ball is cleared.

Gerrard drives at goal from around 20 yards out, but drags it well wide of Bunn's goal.

Corner to Norwich.

Snodgrass directs it towards Holt but Agger gets there first. Tettey commits a foul on Henderson as Liverpool look to break. It was a bit reckless, but no yellow card.

Suarez tries to swivel and shoot but Johnson does enough to put him off. He seemed to just lose his footing in the turf as well.

Johnson is making the most of the space down the left. Most of Liverpool's play is directed that way. Suarez is also looking up for this today. No goals yet though.

Wisdom gets a cross into the box but it goes right across the face of the goal without anyone attacking it.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Norwich (Henderson)

Johnson fed Suarez on the edge of the box, but immediately there were a couple of yellow shirts surrounding him. The tackle is made, but the ball breaks kindly for Henderson. The rest was down to him. He hit the ball first time on the half-turn and found the top corner, giving Bunn absolutely no chance. Great finish. Liverpool lead!

Liverpool's lead is well deserved. They've bossed this game.

Suarez is like a magnet for the ball. It goes to him and sticks, his control is superb. The game has died a bit since the goal and Anfield is a bit subdued.

Henderson has a pop from around 35 yards but it's straight down Bunn's throat. He got plenty of power into it though. He looks in confident mood today.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Norwich (Suarez)

Great goal. Gerrard played the ball into Sturridge on the half-way line, and the new signing did a smart dummy that completely outfoxed Turner. The ball ran on nicely for Suarez, who tucked it back Bunn with minimal fuss. Liverpool well in control now!

It already looks like this Sturridge and Suarez partnership is going to be a profitable one for the Reds.

CLOSE! Holt has a go from a tight angle and Wisdom is forced to head clear. Jones was right behind him and looked ready to make the save, but just a warning for Liverpool there. They'll have to stay alert.

BOOKING! Johnson is the first man into the referees book for a late challenge on Snodgrass.

Suarez and Sturridge link up once again, with the latter taking the shot at Bunn, who deals with it comfortably.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 2-0 Norwich

Liverpool are in front and fully deserve to be. Norwich have had a few slight openings, but only from set pieces. They're not much of an attacking threat from open play. Suarez and Sturridge have been Liverpool's main men.

The home side have dominated possession in the first half, finishing with 71% of the ball. They've had 12 efforts on goal, with six on target. It's difficult to see how Chris Hughton can mastermind a route back into this game.

Elsewhere in the Premier League:

Man City 1-0 Fulham
Newcastle 1-0 Reading
Swansea 0-0 Stoke
West Ham 0-1 QPR
Wigan 1-3 Sunderland

Loic Remy has scored on his debut for QPR to give them the lead at West Ham. Steven Fletcher's brace has helped Sunderland to turn around a one-goal deficit to lead at half time. David Silva has given City the lead at home to Fulham, while Yohan Cabaye has netted for Newcastle.

Liverpool resume play in the second half.

Tettey tries a first-time volley from Carragher's header out, but he doesn't really get hold of it and it trickles wide of the goal.

Liverpool have a corner.

Gerrard swings it in but Johnson gets the clearing header at the near post.

Quiet start to the second half. Liverpool won't mind that too much.

Wisdom controls excellently from a long diagonal ball and drifts inside to have a go with his left peg, but he doesn't catch it cleanly.

Sturridge was close to latching onto Suarez's low driven cross, but wasn't quite set for it.

Liverpool have woken up in this second half now and are looking for a third.

GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Norwich (Sturridge)

A nicely worked goal there. Henderson stabs it through for Downing, who squared it for the new signing and he duly obliged with the tap in. He's now the first man to score on his first three appearances for the club since Ray Kennedy in 1974.

This could be a cricket score now.

Norwich have a free kick wide on the right. Snodgrass to deliver.

Liverpool clear the ball. Norwich look like they're about to make a sub.

NORWICH SUBSTITUTION: Wes Hoolahan comes on to replace Elliott Bennett.

Well, it's an attacking change from Hughton. Not sure if it's going to work. They've had precious little possession in the final third.

GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Norwich (Gerrard)

Gerrard finds the net with a typical Gerrard strike. Johnson drives at the Norwich defence before laying the ball off to the captain, who struck the ball low beyond Bunn from distance. This could end up anything.

Brendan Rodgers is going to make a few changes now...

DOUBLE LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTION: Lucas makes way for Raheem Sterling, while Daniel Sturridge receives a round of applause as Fabio Borini comes on to replace him.

Rodgers seeking more goals, it would seem, as the defensive-minded Lucas comes off for exciting young winger Sterling.

Snodgrass tries to bend one from the edge of the area, but it's way off target.

GOAL! Liverpool 5-0 Norwich (Sterling)

Things go from bad to worse for the Canaries. Sterling capitalises upon a mistake from Turner and slots past Bunn. Although Bennett got the final touch, the ball looked to be heading into the net regardless. One for the dubious goals panel.

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTION: Joe Allen comes on for Jordan Henderson.

Plenty of people are awarding that goal to Bennett. I thought it was just on target before his final touch, but we'll go with the masses.

Suarez goes for goal from a wide free kick, but Tettey heads behind for a corner.

Liverpool looking for more goals. They've done wonders for their goal difference today, but could still improve it.

Johnson displays some dazzling footwork wide on the left. He's been superb today, marauding down the flank.

NORWICH SUBSTITUTION: Anthony Pilkington comes on for Robert Snodgrass.

The Canaries are now heading for their fifth defeat in six games. The only game they didn't lose was their one previous to this, a goalless draw at home to Newcastle.

Agger slaloms into the penalty area before playing the ball wide for Johnson. His cross is cleared by the Norwich defence.

The Anfield faithful belt out a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as their team cruise to victory.

There's going to be two minutes of added time. They can't pass quick enough for Hughton.

Liverpool playing the ball around the centre of the park now, giving everyone a touch of the ball.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 5-0 Norwich

The referee brings Norwich's suffering to an end. Liverpool dominated from start to finish and fully deserve their victory. It's no win in six for the Canaries, with five defeats in that time. Liverpool are up to seventh and on level points with Arsenal, although they've played two games more.

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New Liverpool signing Daniel Sturridge in the stands ahead of their game with Sunderland on January 2, 2013
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