Liverpool welcome Norwich to Anfield in a huge clash at both ends of the Premier League table.
Victory would see Liverpool move to within six points of league leaders – Manchester City, whereas Norwich could move to within a point of safety with a win if Newcastle lose at lunchtime.
Team News
Diogo Jota is unlikely to be risked for Liverpool after he suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday’s Champions League win over Inter Milan.
Norwich could welcome Ozan Kabak back into contention after he missed their loss to Man City through illness.
Tim Krul (shoulder), Jakob Sorensen (knee), Andrew Omobamidele (back), Lukas Rupp (hamstring) and Adam Idah (knee) are absent.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have claimed 13 points from their last five league meetings against Norwich (W4, D1).
- Norwich have won just one of nine previous Premier League visits to Anfield (W1, D2, L6).
- Norwich have conceded seven goals in their last three meetings against Liverpool without scoring (L3).
- Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have racked up 23 offsides together in the Premier League this season, with Mane caught offside on 12 occasions to Salah’s 11 offsides.
- Grant Hanley has won more aerial battles than any other Norwich player in the Premier League this season, having won 58 of his 77 aerial battles.
Prediction
Liverpool are coming into this game off the back of two hard-fought scrappy matches where clinical finishing has been the difference, but I am expecting this to be a more comfortable game if they get on the front foot quickly given their superior quality compared to Norwich.
Norwich simply need to put their disastrous defeat against Man City behind them and refocus here because if Newcastle win at West Ham at lunchtime, this has to be a must-win for the Canaries who need to play their game but with tighter defending and finishing.
I however feel like this will be a comfortable result if Liverpool score first because Norwich’s defence will be eager to avoid conceding in the same manner like they did last weekend, which should suit Liverpool given their pace and movement.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Norwich
Result: Liverpool 3-1 Norwich
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