[lfc-news] Norwich report - PA

PA Sport, 3 Jan 2005
Norwich 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool got their Champions League drive off and running again with a
2-1 win at struggling Norwich.

The Reds needed to bounce straight back from their disappointing 1-0
home defeat by Chelsea on New Year's Day and there was never any real
danger of Rafael Benitez's men losing further ground on the top four
this afternoon.

And after an indifferent first half they found the net twice inside six
minutes after the break with Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise the men on
target.

While Liverpool will now be looking towards the transfer window for the
likes of Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes to spearhead their hopes
of European football, Norwich boss Nigel Worthington will need little
reminding he must strengthen his squad - both at the back and in attack
- if the Canaries are to avoid the drop, despite a late consolation goal
from promising youngster Ryan Jarvis.

Liverpool had been gifted an early opening when home goalkeeper Robert
Green miskicked his clearance up field but Neil Mellor - one of four
changes to the starting line-up - could only fire the ball well wide
from the right, before Riise then had a shot from the edge of the box
charged down.

Norwich again played with just Leon McKenzie in attack but the former
Peterborough marksman was being well marshalled by Sami Hyypia.

The hosts did have a chance, though, when the ball dropped to Gary
Doherty at the far post from a corner after eight minutes but the
centre-back shot wide.

The match was then held up to allow Mattias Jonson treatment to a nasty
gash following a clash of heads with Riise and Norwich were temporarily
down to 10 men while the Sweden winger - just back fit after suffering
concussion - went off down the tunnel to be patched up.

After 20 minutes Steve Finnan checked Darren Huckerby a yard outside the
left edge of the area and the resulting free-kick found Doherty at the
back post but he headed over.

In the 25th minute Steven Gerrard cut inside and flashed a 25-yard drive
only just wide of Green's left-hand post.

As the half-hour approached Norwich failed to clear their lines
following Stephen Warnock's flick into the box and Craig Fleming was a
relieved man when his tame header fell to Riise but was fired wide from
six yards by the Norwegian.

Francis then went into the book for a late, sliding challenge on Hyypia
after he had lost possession in the centre-circle during a promising move.

The Liverpool defender then left Jonson in a heap on the floor after
clattering him from behind, but escaped without punishment from Howard Webb.

Neither side made any changes at half-time and it was Norwich who
started brightly.

In the 52nd minute, Steve Finnan went into the book after tackling
Huckerby to the ground on the left flank. McKenzie got up well to meet
the resulting free-kick into the six-yard box but failed to produce any
power on his header to trouble Jerzy Dudek.

Huckerby then got clear again and his cutback from the byline appeared
to strike Carragher's arm but at such point-blank range a penalty would
have been somewhat harsh.

Then out of nothing, Norwich found themselves behind in the 57th minute
after they lost possession on the edge of the Liverpool area.

Riise's long, cross-field pass over the Norwich defence picked out Luis
Garcia who coolly dispatched a lob over Green and into the net from just
inside the box.

Liverpool then made a change just after the hour, bringing on Florent
Sinama-Pongolle for Mellor, and the switch was to have an instant impact
as it was soon 2-0.

Fleming's clearance from the edge of the box cannoned into the Frenchman
and his shot was well stopped one-handed by Green but the goalkeeper
could do little as Riise followed up to smash the ball in at the far post.

With 12 minutes remaining Worthington threw England Under-19 striker
Jarvis into the action for Francis and he produced a neat finish in the
88th minute, collecting Jonson's flick on to cut inside substitute Djimi
Traore and fire an angled drive past Dudek from 15 yards.

It was nothing more than a consolation for the home side, who will need
to find a cutting edge in the final third if they are to play Liverpool
in the league again next season.

Norwich: Green, Helveg, Doherty, Fleming, Charlton, Jonson, Bentley,
Mulryne (Brennan 67), Francis (Jarvis 78), Huckerby, McKenzie (Crow 67)
Subs not used: Gallacher, Drury
Booked: Bentley, Francis
Goals: Jarvis 88

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise (Traore 82), Nunez
(Hamann 77), Diao, Gerrard, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Mellor (Sinama
Pongolle 61)
Subs not used: Harrison, Raven
Booked: Finnan Hyypia, Warnock
Goals: Luis Garcia 58, Riise 64

Att: 24,503
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)

CARRAGHER RELIEF AS REDS TRIUMPH

Jamie Carragher was delighted to leave Carrow Road with all three points
after a 2-1 win over Norwich.

Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise put the visitors in charge before Ryan
Jarvis ensured a nervous finish with a fine late goal.

"It was a tough game, Norwich put us under pressure," admitted
Carragher. "We were disappointed to concede the goal at the end to put
us under pressure.

"It was very important to get the three points."

Carragher hailed Garcia's superb finish for the opening goal and
admitted Liverpool's foreign contingent were feeling the strain of the
busy Christmas and new year period.

"At the time the game could have gone either way and fortunately a bit
of class from Luis has decided it for us," Carragher added on Sky Sports.

"Foreign players can't believe we play four games in nine days so the
important thing was the result not the performance.

"It's the Champions League spot we are after and it was good to get a
result because it puts a bit of pressure on them (teams above us).

"Our performance was very good against Chelsea, one of the best teams in
Europe, and gave us a lot of confidence. We were unfortunate not to get
a result."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez claimed his team were "a little nervous"
in the last 15 minutes when Norwich scored their goal.

He said: "In the first half they played well but we controlled things in
the second half. The game was very tough but we had better possession
and got the two goals. It was a little nervous in the last 10 to 15
minutes."

Benitez claimed he "did not understand" why teams in England play so
many matches over Christmas and New Year.

"We try to use different players but I don't understand why (there are
so many fixtures).

"It is not just me, all the professionals say the same. We have had a
good Christmas though. We are winning more games away, we are more
consistent and we have more confidence," he told Sky Sports Premiership
Plus.

Asked if the club were trying to sign Fernando Morientes from Real
Madrid, Benitez said: "It is a possibility. He says he wants to come here."