Relegation-threatened Norwich face a daunting task this evening, as the Canaries welcome Premier League leaders Liverpool to Carrow Road.
The Canaries are in major danger of making an immediate return to the Championship after just one season in the English top-flight.
Daniel Farke’s team are currently bottom of the league, having collected just 18 points from their 25 league outings so far. There is now a gap of seven points to safety for the team from Norfolk.
A record of just one win in their last 12 top-flight outings rather explains their current predicament in the table. Last time out, they at least claimed a point in a goalless draw at Newcastle.
The game at St James Park saw the Canaries keep their first clean sheet in 12 Premier League matches.
Home has not offered Norwich much comfort of late, as they have won just once in their last nine league matches in the top-flight. However, there have been signs of improvement of late at Carrow Road, as the Canaries are unbeaten in three league matches, having won their last home game 1-0 against Bournemouth.
It now seems clear that Liverpool will finish this season as champions, as the Merseysider’s are now a massive 22 points clear of second-place Manchester City.
The biggest question is whether they will remain unbeaten for the rest of the Premier League campaign.
Jurgen Klopp’s team have won their last 16 Premier League matches and are undefeated in their last 42 top-flight games. Incredibly, the visitors have also now lost just once in 63 Premier League outings. It is fair to say that record looks unlikely to be dented in east Anglia.
The visitors have been prolific of late in the English top-flight, scoring at least two goals in five of their last six matches. At the other end of the pitch, the Reds have kept clean sheets in nine of their last ten league games.
Liverpool unsurprisingly, have a very strong recent away record, as the Reds are undefeated in 20 Premier League games on their travels, having recorded an impressive 16 wins in the process. As in general, Liverpool have been prolific on their travels, scoring at least twice in six of their last seven away games.
It looks strongly like Liverpool will continue their winning run today. However, the away win offers very little value.
Norwich will be without Ben Godfrey, who is serving the third match of his ban for a red card. Long-term absentee Tim Klose is the only other absentee.
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane will be assessed ahead of kick-off but the expectation is that the forward will have recovered from a thigh injury. – soccertimes.com
