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Norwich v Liverpool – Match preview and form guide

The Premier League’s bottom club hosts the league leaders as struggling Norwich take on champions-elect Liverpool this weekend, with both sides desperate for points for vastly differing reasons.

Here is all you need to know about their Premier League clash at Carrow Road…

Form

Norwich: DLWLD

It’s beginning to look difficult for Daniel Farke and Norwich, the Canaries seemingly heading for a swift return to the Championship after falling seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

The club have managed just one win in their past 12 league fixtures, a 1-0 success against fellow strugglers Bournemouth on January 18.

Farke’s side remain over-reliant on Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell for goals, with no other player in the squad having registered more than one league goal this season, a statistic that must surely change if they are to reignite any faint hopes of survival.

A lack of goals and the joint-worst defensive record in the division paints the picture of Norwich’s season so far, and with Leicester, Wolves and Sheffield United to come in succession after the visit of the league leaders, it may get worse before it gets better.

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Liverpool: WWWWW

Unbeaten in 42 league games and on a 16-game winning run, Liverpool are closing in on a host of new records as the club’s near perfect season continues at a relentless rate.

Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders have dropped points in just one fixture so far this season, a draw at Manchester United in October the only blemish on a record-breaking start to the season.

Having opened up a 22-point advantage at the top of the division, another record for the Merseyside club, the Reds are rapidly closing in on a first league title in three decades and need just six more wins to end their long wait.

Mohamed Salah is also beginning to hit his best form in an ominous warning to Premier League opponents, the Egyptian having scored five goals in his past six appearances, whilst James Milner and Sadio Mane have also returned to training following respective hamstring injuries to boost Klopp’s options.

Whether the German chooses to rotate his options for the visit to the league’s bottom side remains to be seen, with Liverpool travelling to face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

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Last meeting

Liverpool 4-1 Norwich, 9th August 2019

The two sides would open the new Premier League season in a Friday night football meeting in August, Liverpool handing the newly-promoted side a harsh reality check on their return to the top level.

Despite causing problems on occasion for the hosts at Anfield, Norwich would find themselves four goals down at half-time, an unfortunate Grant Hanley own-goal opening the scoring before Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi put Jurgen Klopp’s side firmly in control.

Teemu Pukki would score Norwich’s consolation in the second period as Liverpool took their foot off the gas, though the Championship winners would return home with a better understanding of the levels between English football’s top two tiers.

Predicted Line ups

Norwich: Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram; Tettey, McLean, Rupp, Buendia, Cantwell; Pukki

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino

Who is the referee?

Stuart Attwell.

How can I watch Norwich v Liverpool?

UK readers can watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event, whilst US fans can view the fixture on NBC.

What time is kick off?

17:30 GMT.

Odds

Norwich- 9/1

Draw – 11/2

Liverpool – 1/4

See also – Why Liverpool must banish talk of Philippe Coutinho return and move on from his transfer saga