Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Norwich head coach Daniel Farke see the funny side when the Liverpool manager hits his head on the dugout before the Premier League game on Carrow Road in Norwich
Picture by Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd 44 7904 640267
02/15/2020
– Photo credit: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd
The fixture compiler wasn’t exactly Norwich City friendly, but it is, huh? CHRIS LAKEY takes a look at the opening game … from outside the penalty area
Sadio Mane of Liverpool scores his 1st goal during the Premier League match on Carrow Road, Norwich
Picture by Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd 44 7904 640267
02/15/2020
– Photo credit: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd
The Dutch goalkeeper is the first taxi of rank in this discussion, especially as Liverpool seem to have a habit of playing on City’s last line of defense. And because he’s defending a decent record when it comes to scoring Liverpool on Carrow Road – although, let’s face it, it’s not too difficult. City has entertained the Reds six times since the turn of the century. They lost every game and conceded 19 goals – on average a little more than three per game.
Ruddy hell – John Ruddy can only watch the Liverpoolers celebrate a goal. It became something of a habit …
– Photo credit: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd
Poor old John Ruddy was beaten eight times in two games, Declan Rudd five times in one game and Rob Green put in two in 2005 (the day Ryan Jarvis scored a world champion for City). Krul played against them once and conceded a goal – a shot from Sadio Mane in the 78th minute.
So the statistics are on his side – hopefully the Euro 2020 kick has its teeth when he got the Dutch number lost one to Maarten Stekelenburg, had no lasting effects. A clean sheet of paper would do you good – really very nice.
Adam Lallana celebrates with his teammates – and Jürgen Klopp’s glasses disappear
– Photo credit: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd
Hopefully Jürgen Klopp won’t have a chance for jokes after the game. The gates flowed in January 2016 – nine of them. City scored four goals in a game and still lost thanks to Adam Lallana’s heartbreaker in the 90th minute. Keyword crazy red shirt celebrations, with Klopp at the end of a small pile. Klopp’s glasses went off. When asked about the celebrations, he said: “I don’t know, I haven’t seen anything. I usually have a second pair but I couldn’t find them. It is really difficult to find glasses without glasses. ”
This time it would be really nice if Mr. Klopp could be spared the festivities, although it will be interesting to see how two remarkable thinkers of the game will compete. When the teams met in the first game of the 2019-20 season, City lost 4-1 but put on a good show. It’s a shame that good shows don’t win points.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk – puffed during a pre-season friendly last weekend
– Credit: PA
Virgil is back. Or is he? Virgil van Dyk has not played league football since Jordan Pickford’s ruthless retirement last October. He played 72 minutes in a friendly last weekend. Reds fans loved it, but is he ready to face Norwich? It probably depends on how Klopp sees the games in the City and at home against Burnley a week later. He might decide that VvD is not worth risking. Or he may even think they are good games to win his eye back. Assuming he’s playing, who’s the threat to Daniel Farke? Teemu Pukki, Adam Idah and Jordan Hugill, maybe Josh Sargent. Why not use physical Idah to try to stretch Van Dijk and then let Pukki come over and do the smarter things? This administrative work sounds so easy, doesn’t it?
Summer newcomer Billy Gilmour is expected to start against Liverpool
– Photo credit: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd
This summer there are six: Billy Gilmour, Pierre Lees-Melou, Angus Gunn, Milot Rashica, Josh Sargent and most recently Christos Tzolis – as well as the not-so-new faces Ben Gibson and Dimitris Giannoulis, whose loans have become permanent . We can’t assume that everyone will play, although Sargent’s arrival this week comes after a few league games for Werder Bremen, so his fitness isn’t an obstacle. We don’t really know how good some of them are on top match days – but Liverpool probably don’t know much either, given the limited opportunities to see them preseason. It will be exciting to see who can play.
Half full: It was a decent transfer week with Sargent and Tzolis. City has spent a lot more than last time so should be better off with Premier League football. Lees-Melou looks half good. Gilmour is a gamer. If Grant Hanley and Gibson can’t make it, at least they have to come.
Half empty: We’re still missing a few. Big players haven’t played nearly enough minutes – Gibson and Hanley in particular. Pukki still looks like he needs a good night’s sleep. Do we have enough firepower? Can Sargent and Tzolis achieve this level? Who will play against Liverpool in the defense center? Only Man City, Leicester and Arsenal will come. Where’s Emi?
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