MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 22:19:10| >> :60:2512:2512:
[monks data]
Attendance: 27,110
Norwich logo
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 15, 2020 at 5.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Mane (78')

Jurgen Klopp hails Sadio Mane after match-winning performance

Jurgen Klopp hails Sadio Mane after match-winning performance
© Reuters
Senegal attacker Mane climbed off the bench to prod home.

Jurgen Klopp hailed Sadio Mane's "perfect" injury return as the fit-again striker bagged a vital winner at Norwich.

Senegal attacker Mane climbed off the bench to prod home and seal Liverpool's 17th straight Premier League win in a scrappy affair at Carrow Road.

The wind and rain of Storm Dennis spoiled any chance of attractive football, and the Reds rode their luck en route to yet another league win.

Boss Klopp's men are now just one win away from matching Manchester City's Premier League record run of 18 consecutive victories.

The Reds will now make the trip to Atletico Madrid for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first-leg clash, with Klopp tipping Mane to be ready to star again in Spain.

"It helps when you have such quality on the bench to bring on," said Klopp.

"Yes Sadio could have started today of course but I want to have a free decision for Tuesday.

"You don't think they should play two games in such quick succession.

"The quality of the others is just too big that you have to push somebody through.

"It was perfect for Sadio to have a few minutes but it looked like he was ready, yes."

Liverpool flailed for fluency in a challenging first half as the conditions ruined the Carrow Road encounter.

Norwich City v Liverpool – Premier League – Carrow Road
Sadio Mane fires home the winner (Adam Davy/PA)

Mane removed any frustrations though by plucking Henderson's lofted pass out of the air with a fine first touch, before poking past Tim Krul to kill the Canaries' stubborn resistance.

Mane had hobbled out of Liverpool's 2-1 win at Wolves on January 23, but was quickly back to his best in Norfolk on a stormy Saturday night.

Mere formalities remain before Liverpool seal their first top-flight title since 1990, but manager Klopp admitted his side had struggled against the elements in Norwich.

"It's easy to talk about the wind and things like that, but on the pitch the boys have to deal with it," said Klopp.

"We played for sure two, three, four long balls too many and the formation wasn't prepared for that.

"So we weren't there for the second balls. Our positioning was not exactly like it should have been.

"Once we changed in this specific formation, and (Todd) Cantwell reacting on him like man-marking.

"Then our midfield was sometimes surprised by the long balls of our centre-halves so didn't push up early enough. It was obviously much better in the second-half."

Norwich's plight at the foot of the Premier League took another turn for the worse, but boss Daniel Farke is refusing to accept defeat in the Canaries' battle to avoid the drop.

Burnley v Norwich City – FA Cup – Fourth Round – Turf Moor
Daniel Farke will not give up in Norwich's survival battle (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Sam Byram suffered a nasty-looking hamstring injury, leaving Farke hoping the full-back's season has not now ended prematurely.

"It's a muscle fibre problem in his hamstring," said Farke.

"It was very painful for him, he left the ground on crutches so it will be a few weeks that he's out.

"I hope the season is not over for him.

"I still believe in my players and I still believe we can achieve a miracle, and that's why we're still working that hard."

ID:389844: cacheID:389844:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8936:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their third goal with Jordan Henderson and teammates on February 1, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League week 26 predictions including Chelsea vs. Manchester United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!