LIVERPOOL’S MANE man made a spectacular return to action and it was Heaven 17 for Jurgen Klopp’s relentless Reds.
For just a few seconds, there was the temptation to believe that VAR might help Norwich become only the second side to stop Klopp’s team winning a Premier League game.
Sadio Mane scored his 100th goal in English football to lead Liverpool over Norwich Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Sadio Mane climbed off the bench to be the matchwinner at Carrow RoadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Mane’s late goal stood, a 17th victory in a row was just about earned and only five more, maximum, are required to deliver that long-awaited title.
It was a bit harsh on the Canaries.
Until Mane, back from injury and on as a substitute, finally put the ball in the net, Norwich had matched the below-par visitors for clear goalscoring chances.
And if Farke’s side can match this level of performance for the rest of the season, then maybe, just maybe, they can pull off a great escape.
It was a decent enough game considering the swirling wind and sheets of rain brought by Storm Dennis.
Lukas Rupp wasted a golden chance to put Norwich in the lead in the first-halfCredit: Rex Features
Tim Krul put in a sterling performance in the Norwich goal, but was finally beaten late onCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But this was never a day likely to bring a repeat of Liverpool’s 5-3 win here 40 years ago this month, when a fabulous Justin Fashanu goal could not stop the Reds winning and marching on to the title.
Nor was this match – or almost any other in Premier League history – going to live up to Liverpool’s last visit.
Four years ago, in Jurgen Klopp’s first season in charge, they had conceded a stoppage-time equaliser only to snatch it 5-4 at the death.
Klopp’s glasses had been knocked off in the frantic celebration of that victory.
This time, only the fans were going crazy as their team took another step towards the promised land.
Klopp had paid handsome tribute to Farke and Norwich in the build-up for sticking to their footballing principles.
The trouble is that, unlike Sheffield United, in staying true to themselves, they have won plenty of friends but not enough points.
The Canaries are staring down the mineshaft of relegation again and the odds are another stay in the top flight will be snuffed out in the coming weeks.
Roberto Firmino found little change out of the Norwich defenceCredit: PA:Press Association
On the rare occasions they had the ball in the first half, they moved it around neatly but were lacking in the final third and did not pose the same threat they had in the early stages of the reverse fixture on the first weekend of the season.
But they had the best chance of the half.
A local brewery has dedicated an amber all called The Perfect Finnish to Teemu Pukki but the striker had had little opportunity to provide one until the 35th minute.
Lukas Rupp looked borderline offside as he ran clear on to Kenny McLean’s clipped pass, but the Norwich winger opted to try to play in Pukki rather than shoot himself.
Alisson dived to intercept with a strong palm and there was no need to call on VAR to adjudicate.
Liverpool meanwhile had moments of swagger but precious little end product.
Firmino was clearly in the mood, producing a couple of moments of outrageous skill that ultimately led to nothing.
Norwich manager Daniel Farke shows his respect for Liverpool’s soon-to-be title winnersCredit: Reuters
With the wind at their backs, the trademark diagonal balls were being pinged to the full backs but the Reds weren’t really clicking.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tame shot straight at Tim Krul and efforts wide by Naby Keita and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all they had to show for the opening half.
Huge credit should be given, though, to a tenacious Norwich side and particularly the back six that worked hard to close down space and the ball.
When they could maintain shape and concentration like this, you wondered how they had conceded a league-high of 47 goals in their first 25 games.
After a scrappy start to the second half, Liverpool finally forced Krul into some meaningful action just before the hour mark.
Only back from injury, Sadio Mane was the hero on a tricky night in NorfolkCredit: EPA
First Keita forced the Norwich goalkeeper to push a rising drive from outside the box over the crossbar. Moments later, Krul kept out a Salah shot and then somehow stopped Keita burying the rebound at point-blank range.
Klopp gave Mane and Fabinho, both being nursed back after injury, half an hour to make a decisive impact, and in the end, Mane did it.
The Senegal forward added extra drive and menace to the Liverpool attack. Max Aarons almost sliced a Robertson cross into his own net and Mane played in Salah to deliver a cross that was crying out to be put into the net.
But then Norwich came closest of all. Having been penned into their own half for a long period, they went up the other end and Tettey’s shot came back off Alisson’s near post.
Liverpool probably deserved their winner, though, for the amount of pressure they had enjoyed in the second half.
Norwich claimed Mane had pushed Christoph Zimmermann before taking down a Henderson pass and smashing the ball inside the near post.
But VAR did not take long to allow the goal to stand.
And the Liverpool fans did not take long to start singing that song about winning the league that was forbidden for so long, even in this remarkable season.
They added a chorus of “Going down” for the benefit of the home fans, who saw Pukki hit a late chance straight at Alisson and know that their visiting counterparts are probably right on both counts.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
