After their 1-1 draw to kick off their Europa League campaign in Bordeaux, Liverpool will now turn their attention to their upcoming fixture against Norwich in the Premier League. The Reds have lost two straight games in the league, and will look to get back on track at home. To help me preview this game, I have gotten Ben Smith from Read Liverpool to take a look at the Reds.
You guys have been on pretty bad form lately, what has been the biggest issue?
Just a complete lack of ideas up front. There’s no fluidity in the final third, nobody is getting anywhere near Christian Benteke, and there’s just no purpose in attack.
Benteke is doing as much as he can. He needs somebody up there with him to link up with and create chances. Against West Ham we created nothing, and against Manchester United – wonder goal aside – we were anemic going forward.
There are still issues in defence, too, and this is becoming a tedious issue under Brendan Rodgers. Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren are still insistent on passing amongst themselves around the back – and they just never look comfortable doing so. That doesn’t exactly fill the team with confidence.
Does not having Luis Suarez against Norwich worry you?
With respect, we should have enough even without Luis Suarez to see off sides like Norwich anyway, but as mentioned above, it’s just not happening at the moment.
He was incredible, though, particularly against you guys! He’s a big miss against every side, and replacing his goals has proved even harder than anticipated, particularly with Daniel Sturridge’s injury woes.
Without Suarez, who is the one player that Norwich should look out for on Sunday?
Christian Benteke is the only one that really looks like causing problems, it all depends on what kind of service he gets. His goal at Old Trafford proved he can make something out of nothing – and sometimes in extraordinary fashion.
Philippe Coutinho is an obvious threat, too. But it depends where he plays. When he is part of a front three he has a tendency to drop too deep. He needs to be deployed in midfield so that when he does play deeper, we’re not sacrificing anything going forward. That way he can be supplying passes for three more attack-minded players ahead of him.
What are your opinions on Norwich’s season so far?
I haven’t seen a full game of theirs, to be honest, but I’ve been impressed with the bits I have seen.
Cameron Jerome will get you some goals this season, I’ve even put him on my Predict the Six coupon for the weekend!
Alex Neil seems to have got you well organized, so I’m sure you’ve got a good chance of staying up this season.
What Norwich player do you fear the most?
Nathan Redmond with his pace could give us a bit of a headache. I quite like Alex Tettey, too.
What is your predicted line-up?
He’ll probably go with 4-3-3, looking something like: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Lucas, Milner, Coutinho; Firmino, Benteke, Ings
What kind of tactics can we expect to see from the Reds?
I just hope we start with intensity. We haven’t really done that in any games so far, perhaps with the exception of Arsenal away.
Liverpool are low on confidence at the minute, so starting on the back foot – which has been the case for the first two home games this term – is the last thing they need.
A fast start and an early goal are essential. Otherwise it will be another nervy, tense afternoon at Anfield.
What is your prediction for the game?
It’s hard to be positive at the moment, but I’ll do my best. Liverpool to win 3-1; Benteke to bag a couple.
