Liverpool win dramatic nine-goal thriller

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23 Jan 2016

By Luke Reddy BSports

Adam Lallana's injury-time strike saw Liverpool edge a nine-goal thriller at Norwich in one of the most dramatic Premier League games of the season.

Roberto Firmino scuffed the Reds ahead but Dieumerci's Mbokani's backheel levelled and Steven Naismith's debut strike put the home side in front.

Wes Hoolahan added a penalty before Jordan Henderson and Firmino struck.

James Milner put the away side ahead and though Sebastian Bassong netted in added time, Lallana delivered a twist.

Relive Liverpool's incredible win at Norwich

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Set-piece defending 'biggest rubbish ever'

The England midfielder's volley - which was fired into the ground and bounced agonisingly in for the home side - sparked chaotic scenes as Reds boss Jurgen Klopp raced along the touchline to celebrate with his players.

Just moments earlier, Klopp had been visibly incensed by his side's lapse in allowing Bassong to level - but the change in his mood was fitting in a game which ebbed and flowed like this one.

The German had his glasses knocked off by striker Christian Benteke during the celebrations and later said: "I have a second pair of glasses but I can't find them. It's really difficult looking for glasses without glasses."

Catch your breath

Norwich scored their second goal attacking Liverpool's left side and won a penalty down that flank. This graphic shows the Reds made far more tackles on the right of the field, so do they need to be stronger down the left?

The contrast in emotion on the touchline was as pronounced as anything the season has delivered so far and Norwich - who could be in the bottom three by the end of the day - will have to recover before Tuesday's trip to Tottenham.

Their record now stands at 32 Premier League games without a win in matches where they have fallen behind - but having been 3-1 up, few will sting like this.

The first five shots on target in this game found the net and neither side could claim to have deserved a win, with each guilty of lapses which at times led to chaos and resulted in just the fourth 5-4 result in Premier League history.

Russell Martin will feel worse than most after gifting Milner the chance to put Liverpool 4-3 up with a weak backpass.

And though Bassong's crisp strike from 20 yards appeared to have reprieved his fellow defender, substitute Lallana's first league goal of the season capped a frenzied finish.

Reds must buy to relieve the stress

The Reds are four points worse off than at this stage last season but could this win be a catalyst for a spell of consistency and a move higher than seventh place?

Every Liverpool player raced to join in the celebrations after Lallana's winner

One wonders what reception Liverpool's players would have got from the German had it stayed 4-4, such was his demeanour, and his side masked some common inefficiencies in taking three points.

Mbokani's brilliant back-heeled finish arrived after failing to clear a corner, meaning the Reds have conceded eight goals from corners this season - a league high.

Their passing - at 75% accuracy - was not at its best, their defending was sometimes rash but they found key goals, despite having scored fewer times than relegation-threatened Sunderland before kick-off.

Much has been made of the need to sign a striker but after such a result, neglecting their defensive issues seems a big risk for Klopp who will surely be keen to have less stressful afternoons in the dugout.

Pain comes from the back

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Neil not happy with Norwich 'shambles'

"When you concede five goals you deserve to lose the game," concluded Norwich boss Alex Neil after the match.

The Scot admitted defensive errors have been his side's "downfall" this season and the 43 goals they have leaked in 23 games paints a damning picture - and only Sunderland (45) have let in more.

However, the performance of Naismith at the other end does offer something positive to take forward.

Making his debut alongside full-back Ivo Pinto - who had a tough afternoon - Naismith showed quality throughout.

He managed 18 goals in 52 league starts at Everton but may need to adopt the role of talisman rather than impact substitute at Norwich if they are to survive.

That said, they have now conceded 11 goals in three games - a stat which must improve if any Naismith contribution is to prove telling.

Man of the match - Roberto Firmino

Roberto Firmino scores for Liverpool against Norwich

Roberto Firmino pulled Liverpool level and created Jordan Henderson's goal to add to his own two strikes

The stats you need to know

Steven Naismith has now scored his first Premier League goal for both Everton and Norwich against Liverpool.
Liverpool have conceded from their first shot on target faced in all four of their Premier League games in 2016.
The Canaries have conceded a league-high 21 Premier League goals in the last half hour of games this season, six more than any other team.
This is only the third time in Premier League history that Liverpool have recovered from two goals behind to win an away game - also against Manchester City in October 2008 and Fulham in October 2004.

Up next

Norwich travel to Tottenham in the Premier League on Tuesday and Liverpool will be in action at the same time as they try to protect their 1-0 League Cup semi-final first-leg lead against Stoke City.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Norwich City

13 Rudd
25 Pinto
05 Martin
06 Bassong
12 Brady
18 Dorrans
08 Howson
22 Redmond (Jarvis - 70' )
07 Naismith (Jerome - 82' )
14 Hoolahan (Olsson - 70' )
09 Mbokani Bezua

Substitutes

01 Ruddy
10 Jerome
16 Jarvis
17 Klose
21 Mulumbu
23 Olsson
32 Odjidja-Ofoe

Liverpool

22 Mignolet
02 Clyne
04 K Touré
17 Sakho
18 Moreno (Caulker - 90' )
14 Henderson (Benteke - 76' )
21 Lucas
23 Can
07 Milner
11 Firmino
33 Ibe (Lallana - 59' Booked )

Substitutes

09 Benteke
19 Caulker
20 Lallana
24 Allen
38 Flanagan
52 Ward
53 J. Teixeira

Ref: Lee Mason

Att: 27,108

Match Stats

Possession 47 53

Shots

6 13

On target

5 7

Corners

3 3

Fouls

10 14

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Norwich City 4, Liverpool 5.

90:00 +5:33 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Norwich City 4, Liverpool 5.

90:00 +4:40 Booking

Booking Adam Lallana (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

90:00 +4:19 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Norwich City 4, Liverpool 5. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

90:00 +4:12

Attempt blocked. Steven Caulker (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

90:00 +1:57 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Norwich City 4, Liverpool 4. Sebastien Bassong (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cameron Jerome following a set piece situation.

90:00 +1:33

Offside, Liverpool. James Milner tries a through ball, but Christian Benteke is caught offside.

90:00 +0:59

Attempt blocked. James Milner (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Benteke with a headed pass.

89:31 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Liverpool. Steven Caulker replaces Alberto Moreno.