Thread by @babuyagu

Thoughts on the lineup?

Never would have predicted it but I expected lots of rest for guys in midweek due to the short turnaround between games.

Good balance in midfield. Hope Hendo sits and doesn't try to get into the box in open play or we will get fucked over.

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1495035520690397187

I like the look of this attack. Must be absolutely frightening to face three players like that.

Gomez at RB - good to see him get some game time and he needs minutes. Hope his rustiness there isn't an issue.

Should still be an easy enough win for the Redmen at home.

https://twitter.com/queklopp/status/1495044206863142913

According to the official twitter - "a muscle injury". He finished the game midweek and it wasn't reported in the presser so I am guessing it is just tightness and with the squad we have, why risk him?

For those asking about Trent... Ben is a good source for reporting on injury news. He is saying just being rested. Good shout IMO. Joe needs minutes and we will need Trent more for the coming games than today.

https://twitter.com/BenDinnery/status/1495036275044368384

You can do this without a formation change too btw. Sarri's Napoli springs to mind with Ghoulam on the left, Callejon on the right. Hysaj the RB would sit as part of a 3 on the ball.

https://twitter.com/Parki729/status/1495049133882757124

I always say: think about roles, not positions.

Shame Hendo couldn't get turned there to keep the forward momentum going.

Oh and that was very clever by Mo to get all the defenders to just leave him covering a backheel. Same the quality of the shot didn't match the footwork to create space.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

Rashica scores. Flag goes up. Offside.

Have to say, worried about how our midfield didn't do anything to stop that ball. Keita had pressed up as part of the counter press and then couldn't get back goal side. Nobody else did much either.

Tsimikas just missed an open net from 1 yard!

Amazing from Mo- both Diaz and Mane are in there but the cross goes over their leaps to head it - falls back post to a sliding Kostas who scoops it over the bar. Hard to control that shot given how it came to him.

I love seeing Diaz do that little chest pass - something I always remember Ronaldinho for.

He is going to be another of those players who does all that street football stuff that you rarely see people attempt on a pitch that is fun to watch.

Tsimikas won the ball there on the right and then got absolutely flattened after. Up and moving again thankfully. And been fouled again with his very next touch :D

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

Matip and van Dijk are playing opposite sides to normal today. I am assuming that is what I was saying above about Gomez being a 'stay at home' RB while Tsimikas bombs forward. That leaves Virg as the middle CB with the rapier outball. Gomez & Matip as the ball carrying wide CBs

Virg stays up after the set piece. Mane floats in inswinger in from the left - Virg wins it but can't get any power. Might bounce into the far corner - keeper fingertips away. And cleared.

Keita getting the ball in the half spaces a lot here in bad areas for Norwich - hasn't found the perfect little chip ball over the defence yet that he is looking for.

Oh and Pukki fires wide a big chance at the other end. Think both Virg and Joel played him on in the middle.

Oh and now Diaz fires just over the bar from about 15 yards on his right.

Penalty shout in there too for a foul on Naby (I think?). Nothing given.

Mane trying to wriggle away from midfield and has a shot from 20 yards - low straight down the middle and easily held by keeper.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

Virg and Joel switched again back to usual. Still very much looks a back 3 though when we have the ball.

Mo tries to skin the whole Norwich team starting out on the touchline. Beats them all, shoots, saved, corner.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

Tsimikas inswinger - Virg wins against the keeper who came and missed - open net, ball loops up, Mo heads, not enough power. Headed off the line. Another corner.

Keita shot from this one. Another last defender block.

Lot of pressure now.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

Damn. Defender stopped that Keita through ball by a toenail. Otherwise Mo looked in .

I have no idea why Hendo is coming that deep to take the ball off Virg and Joel. He just leaves the Norwich midfield the easy task of doubling up on Naby and Ox which means we can't play through them.

Hendo having to charge up the pitch 30 hards to press Gilmore. Mane needs to be doing that. If you want to play the Bobby position you need to do the Bobby role.

Mane you gotta leave that for Mo. You aren't scoring that header from there.

https://twitter.com/pala77liverpool/status/1495057773490548742

Did it again. Virg carrying it out, gets away from Puki and Hendo was standing literally 2 yards right in front of him with a midfielder on him. Virg leaves it. Hendo passes it back to Matip and we are behind the whole Norwich block again.

Said it so many times but you don't move towards the man on the ball. You move like a pendulum around them. That way you aren't closing their space but opening passing & carrying lanes. Hendo just pulled a midfielder into Virgs space.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

Midfield looks like a flat line so it is easy to play through as there is no depth to our shape. Their counters are opening us up far too easy every time

Still dominating the ball and chances. But one of those you don't want to go a silly goal behind in

https://twitter.com/Chris_McCracken/status/1495057011624620032

Hendo almost got hit by a Virg long ball by moving towards him. Had to duck. :D

And now he gets nailed by a shot.

Ball breaks to Virg, scores. Flag goes up. Offside against Hendo I guess from when the shot hit him? Virg was behind Hendo so can't be him.

Diaz reacts quickest, WIlliams stumbling, brings him down, yellow card.

I would run at him every time we get the ball now.

https://twitter.com/babuyagu/status/1495060569203826701

I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't Virgil's non-verbal way of saying "don't get in my way". He almost smashed him in the face if you watch it back. Hendo had to duck.

Mo once again trying that 'beat everyone, get onto my left and aim far post' goal.

Over the bar again. But he keeps working that opening for himself here he will bury one soon enough. Not sure Norwich can stop him either. He looks sharp - bar the finishing so far.

Gomez has to cut that back rather than stand it up. We have no Jan Koller in there. Diaz (I think it was) had peeled to the penalty spot for the cutback

0-0 Half Time. Thoughts?

I see 5 of 6 matches at the moment are 0-0 at HT. Is that the storm system causing havoc for team preparations or still affecting games?

Done enough to score - just haven't found the finish.

Ox had a big chance that opened up just before the HT whistle - but Hanley deflected over. Thought the ref would let us take the corner. He played 1 minute extra to the second.

The midfield isn't quite right. I mention all the time I have midfield myopia so I am always looking there first - sorry

Hendo is too deep in early buildup getting in the CBs way and leaving us light of options for the CB to pass to further forward.

Off the ball the line looks

really flat rather than being a 1-2 and Norwich play through it too easily.

On a few of the transitions... it is a worry how little support people have pressing the ball too. One guy rushes out to he press and if he doesn't win the ball the whole press collapses.

Tsimikas having 3 shots in the first half highlights how attacking he has been - but maybe also how our chances are falling to the wrong people.

His final ball has been poor. Gomez too.

Keita a mixed game. Got in good spots behind the midfield line but couldn't execute the little pass over the defence to the far post the few times he tried. Had a good shot too.

They got behind him once though too and he couldn't get back.

For those asking about xG 0.11 yet 1 big chance. My guess would be this.

Live data like this tends to have shit like this from time to time. Opta do a quality control review of games within 24 hours and correct it.

https://twitter.com/babuyagu/status/1495065381463109639

https://twitter.com/DM2501/status/1495065864538058752

Half time changes? Feel like Taki would be a good player to bring on here. Connect the forwards together - and help the midfield more as Gilmore has too much space.

Elliott and Thiago will probably be introduced too at some point.

Sounds like Harvey is getting ready to come on here.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

1-0 Norwich.

Tame shot that was going right to Ali just deflects off Matip and goes in.

And THAT is why I hate defenders sticking a leg out for a shot.

https://twitter.com/Chris_McCracken/status/1495067581857910785

Hasn't happened yet. Could be lots of permutations though.

One of the defenders and put Ox as a more attacking RB now we are a goal down. Hendo off - don't need a 6 as much if you have 3 CBs in defence line.

Salah and Diaz work a shot now for Hendo.

I feel all the shooting chances we have worked to open today have all fallen to the wrong guys.

I feel like whenever none of Gini, Thiago or Fabinho is on the pitch - the midfield doesn't look right. Doesn't defend transitions well at all. Doesn't fill zone 14 (where they scored from) at all.

We just lack that bit of defensive nous on defending spaces.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

* I know Gini isn't here anymore obvs. Just mentioning the three that I think were our very tactical midfielders.

Mane HAS to play Diaz in there. Took far too long then played it behind Naby stopping the momentum.

He then had a penalty shout which looked a fair one. Felt he had got away from the defender with the ball.

Yeah Mane chops inside Hanley. Hanley puts his arms out to stop him getting to the ball. Mane too theatrical maybe? If outside the box it is a FK. If the ref gives it VAR doesn't overturn it.

Excellent defending there Naby. Saved us a 2nd

Origi and Thiago coming on. Agree with both.

And again Naby - comes back - helps Virg, wins the ball.

Been out best midfielder by some distance out there.

Thiago and Origi on... Naby & Ox off. We are going 4231 now then. Double pivot.

Interesting that the commentator said Harvey was stripped and ready but didn't come on. Guess the goal changed the plan?

OH MANEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

All the forwards that started the season at Liverpool have now scored against Norwich.

Taxi x2, Origi in the EFL Cup
Jota, Mo and Bobby at Carrow Road in the league
Mane at Anfield in the league.

Diaz the winner?

https://twitter.com/FootbaIlForYou/status/1495071165676589061

I mentioned that it seems Mane is determined to score an acrobatic goal after a number of bicycle kick attempts since returning from AFCON. He finally gets one!

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I honestly thought he fucked it. Sorry for doubting you Mo.

Ali picks him out. Mo gets away from the defence. Keeper comes out. Mo holds onto it 3, 4 touches... then passes into the corner instead of squaring to Origi.

What were Norwich doing that high with Mo, Diaz, Mane and Origi all on the pitch.

The football equivalent of this.

Gomez... careful mate. Can't be giving them a whiff of getting back into this.

Oh and Mo again opens up his left and curls it. Looks in but goes an inch with. What a ball by Thiago.

That reminded me so much of Bayern & Robben. Isolate the full back and switch to him fast.

I swear... it looked like Virg caught that ball before the whislte.

Probably just a sync problem with my stream but I did have a mini heart attack not gonna lie.

Ali was out of the box there sure? It looked well out when he released it. I wont complain like but just wouldn't surprise me with these shit refs we have.

https://twitter.com/Chris_McCracken/status/1495070365395128322

I would flip that and say excellent squad planning. Kept a guy until the end of his contract instead of accepting a small fee. Allows us to bring through a couple of teens already at/above his level to replace him for very little.

Matip what the hell was that. Far too casual on that pass and almost handed them a 1v1.

I'd honestly have Konate starting ahead of him for a bit. He usually doesn't play this much and is maybe a bit mentally fatigued.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

3-1 Diaz.

Hendo ball, Diaz dinks the keeper.

And now ALL 7 senior forwards on our books have scored against the Canaries this season.

#LIVNOR #LFC #EPL

https://twitter.com/babuyagu/status/1495071924912807943

Wonderful pressing again by Diaz. Wins it back, runs down the defence, Mane on the overlap is played in. Mane slides the shot just wide. Shredding this Norwich defence now. They look so rattled.

Diaz will haunt their dreams for a long time after this.

And the Luis Suarez song comes out for an airing... but for Luis Diaz. 👀👀👀

Looks like as a Liverpool forward called Luis... terrorism against Norwich was always on the cards. He is murdering them.

Been critical of Hendo at times this season saying for not covering the ground as he used to

He just made a great recovery run to get back and make a block.

https://twitter.com/Chris_McCracken/status/1495075638230892544

The injury fucked him. He was top of the world in that moment. Felt like he could do anything to anybody in that form.

One of those real "what if" injuries.

Diaz coming off for Taki to a standing ovation.

Love Taki's awareness there. Knew the keeper was going to pass the ball out to Williams before the ball had even been passed to the keeper. Set off and was on Brandon immediately - we win the ball back due to rushing him.

3-1 win. Job done.

Have to say though Mike Dean was shite today. Letting off Thiago with that tug back at the end there pretty much sums him up. He seems afraid to make a decision - unlike Oliver.

Just the SIX big chances created today. Excellent performance. Norwich lucky to get in at 0-0 HT. We went up a few gears after the opener too.

Kaide Gordon to score against Norwich in the FA Cup? Get money on it. Destiny!

https://twitter.com/babuyagu/status/1495076241556316164

Burnley win and Everton defeat keeps the dream alive 😍😍😍