Fifth placed Liverpool failed to keep up the pressure on the Premier League’s top four teams as they were held 1-1 by Norwich City on Saturday.
The result will be frustrating for Liverpool fans, who are becoming used to seeing their team take points off the league leaders such as Manchester United and Chelsea, only to see them drop points by stuttering to draws with lower teams.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish described the result as “frustrating” during his post-game interview with BBC Sport.
Liverpool started the game brightly and Craig Bellamy created a chance for Luis Suarez, only for the Uruguay international striker to be denied by John Ruddy. Defender Martin Skrtel also stepped up to join the attack and was denied by the crossbar as he went close to opening the scoring.
Norwich played their way into the game, and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina had to produce good saves to keep Steve Morison and in-form winger Anthony Pilkington off the score sheet.
Despite some dangerous counterattacks from Norwich, Liverpool had the better of the first half and took a deserved lead during injury time before the interval.
Jose Enrique lifted a ball over the top of the Norwich defense, and Craig Bellamy brought it down before firing a deflected shot past Ruddy.
Norwich held their discipline and were rewarded with an equalizer 15 minutes into the second half. The lively Pilkington sent over a cross, and second half substitute Grant Holt emphatically headed home beyond the diving Reina.
Soon after Pilkington found space again and sent over another teasing cross, only for Holt’s header to this time be well saved by Reina.
The final 20 minutes saw the home team in the ascendancy, and Liverpool had three big chances to win the game. Luis Suarez taunted the Canaries defense before sliding a shot beyond Ruddy, only for a recovering Russell Martin to scramble back and clear the ball with the help of his own goalpost.
Andy Carroll then headed a Steven Gerrard cross agonizingly wide, before Ruddy sealed a point for Norwich with an outstanding save from Suarez.
Liverpool manager Dalglish complained after the game that Uruguay international striker is receiving harsh treatment in the wake of his racism row with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
His integrity has been called into question and I think maybe he is suffering from that at the moment,” Dalglish told BBC Sport. “He needs protection and I don’t think he got that out there.
Dalglish will be hoping Liverpool can get back to winning ways in their midweek Carling Cup fixture at Stoke City, before they return to Premier League action at West Bromwich Albion next weekend.
The West Brom game will pit Dalglish against Roy Hodgson, the man he replaced at Anfield.
LINEUPS
LIV – Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing (Carroll 80), Adam, Suarez, Kuyt (Agger 90 + 1), Bellamy (Henderson 69).
NOR – Ruddy, R Martin, Barnett, Tierney, Naugton, Johnson, Pilkington (Crofts 90+2), Hoolahan, Fox, Bennett (Holt 57), Morison.
SCORING SUMMARY
LIV – Craig Bellamy (Jose Enrique) 45+1’
NOR – Grant Holt (Anthony Pilkington) 60’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: John Ruddy (Norwich City)
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish described the result as “frustrating” during his post-game interview with BBC Sport.
Liverpool started the game brightly and Craig Bellamy created a chance for Luis Suarez, only for the Uruguay international striker to be denied by John Ruddy. Defender Martin Skrtel also stepped up to join the attack and was denied by the crossbar as he went close to opening the scoring.
Norwich played their way into the game, and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina had to produce good saves to keep Steve Morison and in-form winger Anthony Pilkington off the score sheet.
Despite some dangerous counterattacks from Norwich, Liverpool had the better of the first half and took a deserved lead during injury time before the interval.
Jose Enrique lifted a ball over the top of the Norwich defense, and Craig Bellamy brought it down before firing a deflected shot past Ruddy.
Norwich held their discipline and were rewarded with an equalizer 15 minutes into the second half. The lively Pilkington sent over a cross, and second half substitute Grant Holt emphatically headed home beyond the diving Reina.
Soon after Pilkington found space again and sent over another teasing cross, only for Holt’s header to this time be well saved by Reina.
The final 20 minutes saw the home team in the ascendancy, and Liverpool had three big chances to win the game. Luis Suarez taunted the Canaries defense before sliding a shot beyond Ruddy, only for a recovering Russell Martin to scramble back and clear the ball with the help of his own goalpost.
Andy Carroll then headed a Steven Gerrard cross agonizingly wide, before Ruddy sealed a point for Norwich with an outstanding save from Suarez.
Liverpool manager Dalglish complained after the game that Uruguay international striker is receiving harsh treatment in the wake of his racism row with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
His integrity has been called into question and I think maybe he is suffering from that at the moment,” Dalglish told BBC Sport. “He needs protection and I don’t think he got that out there.
Dalglish will be hoping Liverpool can get back to winning ways in their midweek Carling Cup fixture at Stoke City, before they return to Premier League action at West Bromwich Albion next weekend.
The West Brom game will pit Dalglish against Roy Hodgson, the man he replaced at Anfield.
LINEUPS
LIV – Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing (Carroll 80), Adam, Suarez, Kuyt (Agger 90 + 1), Bellamy (Henderson 69).
NOR – Ruddy, R Martin, Barnett, Tierney, Naugton, Johnson, Pilkington (Crofts 90+2), Hoolahan, Fox, Bennett (Holt 57), Morison.
SCORING SUMMARY
LIV – Craig Bellamy (Jose Enrique) 45+1’
NOR – Grant Holt (Anthony Pilkington) 60’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: John Ruddy (Norwich City)
