Liverpool Vs. Norwich, 2011 Premier League: Canaries Battle To Draw At Anfield

Liverpool are supposed to be winning their matches at Anfield against newly-promoted teams, especially with talisman Steven Gerrard returned to the midfield. 1-1 home draws are reserved for title chasers like Manchester United, not relegation fodder like Norwich City. And yet, a 1-1 draw is what they got against the Canaries today despite being utterly dominant in all phases of the game, registering 29 shots and hitting the post three times.

John Ruddy was in fine form but Liverpool should have scored more goals - the fact that they were just 1-0 up at halftime (that coming via a Craig Bellamy strike after Peter Walton sensibly allowed played to continue when Luis Suarez was fouled) was a bit of a joke. That wasn't a safe margin with Norwich always a threat to conjure up a goal, and when Charlie Adam coughed up the ball on the Liverpool left things went rather downhill. Said ball made its way to the head of Grant Holt in the centre of the penalty box. The striker's job was made rather easier by the fact that Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson and Jamie Carragher had all managed to run into each other trying to claim the ball, and the match was level.

Norwich had chances to go ahead, with Reina pulling off a good save just a few minutes later to prevent Holt from getting his brace, but the real drama was at the other end of the pitch, when both Andy Carroll and Suarez should have put the hosts in the least during the dying seconds of the match. Carroll's header went wide, however, while Suarez's flick was pushed over by Ruddy, and Liverpool would have to settle for a draw, putting them four points behind fourth place Newcastle.