Four games left in arguably the most intense title race in the Premier League era, or rather four 'cup finals' left. I will never forget Sunday's victory against Manchester City without a doubt, but I will be placing it at the back of my mind until the end of the season as both I as a die-hard fan and the players look to normalise the situation and mind set once more and not get too carried away. The skipper Steven Gerrard of all people said that "It is difficult not to get carried away" after the Reds edged City in an extremely emotional and thrilling encounter at Anfield, and I think we can all echo that! Nevertheless, the skipper also said, rather to the players than to the media, "This is gone. We go to Norwich. Exactly the same". I cried from my living room as he cried just moments after Mark Clattenburg blew the final whistle, but these are all now memories. The spirit, fight and character, as Ex-Red and Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp said, "poured" out of Gerrard in the huddle post match as Kopites bellowed out to the rest of the country "We're gonna win the league". That was just three points, yes probably the toughest and potentially the most important three points come the end of the season, but every game in the Barclays Premier League poses a different and difficult challenge, as we saw in Man City's draw in their game in hand against Sunderland. It irritates me a lot that people keep presuming teams, including and especially Liverpool, will automatically overcome hurdles in the final stretch for the title. If your asking me whether I think LFC will beat Norwich on Sunday, I think we will. If your asking me whether I would love and think that my team will go on and win the Barclays Premier League, the answer is also "yes". The words "loving" and "thinking" are very powerful words in the English language and two of the most important words in this Premier League season for fans and the media alike, but these words do not mean or lead to a definite answer or a certainty, rather just a feeling. 
The most consecutive number of wins a team achieved in the Premier League era is 14 games, a phenomenal total reached by Arsenal between the 10th of February 2002 and the 24th of August in the same year. Liverpool are currently on 10 consecutive wins that began with a thumping 5-1 victory over the Gunners around the same time as they started their run, 8th February to be precise. But winning the remaining four games would see the Reds equal that record and become the first team in the Premier League era to win 14 consecutive games in a single season, rather than stretching out into a second campaign as Arsenal did. Now we do know that we do not have to win all four games to win the League after the result at the Etihad, in fact three victories and a draw against Master tactician Jose Mourinho's side in L4 in just over a weeks time will see Liverpool win their first League title in 24 years. But why not go for the 14 wins? Of course we have to look at Norwich first and foremost.
I do think that if we win this next game against the Canaries then we will win the league. Call me crazy? Surely Chelsea are a much bigger hurdle than Norwich? Yes to an extent, but all games are hurdles in the Premier League. I think we will win the League with a win at Carrow Road because we can then show that we can adjust the way we play with a different squad and still play good enough football to get over the line first. What am I getting at? Both the 65th and 93rd minute in the Man City game could have potentially damaged the Reds title surge for at least three of the remaining four matches left. Daniel Sturridge, despite reports, is doubtful for Easter Sunday's trip to Norfolk due to a hamstring injury and his potential absence is a blow, but the imminent absence of one of the unsung heroes this season in Jordan Henderson is the biggest of the two.
The Reds midfield maestro, that may well be one of those on Roy Hodgson's plane to Brazil next month, has the legs that Gerrard doesn't really posses any more. He never stops running. Never stops causing problems for the opposition. Never shows any tiredness or fatigue. But these qualities may not be visible for the next three League encounters after a challenge on Samir Nasri that saw him receive a straight red card. It is debatable whether or not Joe Allen and Lucas can fill a rather large hole left in the Liverpool midfield with similar qualities, and Henderson has appeared in every single League match so far, unfortunately will now not make the full distance of the full 38 games, but still that surely means that he is a better player than the other two options. Gerrard has now settled into the holding midfield position in front of the back 4 and changing that, for me anyway, would be rather risque. As for Sturridge well I suppose you could use Aspas, who hasn't had too much of a chance to prove himself with only a few appearances at the start of the season replacing a banned Luis Suarez. I can't say I'm worried about the team without Sturridge though because of Suarez, especially considering his form against the Canaries.
The Uruguayan has netted 11 goals from the four games he has played in against Sunday's opponents, with the latest coming in the form of four goals from the five that the Reds scored in a 5-1 hammering of the South East side back in December just after an embarrassing defeat away at Hull City. The quality as well as the quantity of the goals that he has scored against Norwich will excite many Liverpool fans looking ahead to this fixture.
Unfortunately it isn't as easy as that. With Norwich fighting for survival and dominating for most of their defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage last time out, you wouldn't be wrong for thinking that going to Carrow Road is a tough test. Their change of manager is slowly leading to a different style of play for the team, which means the players are far from fully adapted, just like Liverpool were perhaps in the first half of last season, which has to make them vulnerable to a firing force in Liverpool's attack. Still, Brendan Rodgers feels that the home side in this one can put up a good fight.
"It''s the nature of this league and Norwich will be the same for us this weekend - They know they need to win their game. They're just above the relegation [zone] and they''ll see their home games as being vital for them.They're looking to change their way they're playing. They're looking to open up the field a bit more and have a bit more space to play in. They'll want to show they can win in front of their supporters."
It is highly unlikely that Liverpool's opponents will replicate the same quality of football that Man City produced at Anfield in the first 20 minutes of the second half on Sunday, but in their bid to secure survival, changing the style of play into trying to open the play by producing spaces may also give the team a new belief and freshness.Again we're live on Sky again on Sunday, Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD in fact, but imagine the atmosphere in the ground as the passionate fans in yellow and loud and proud travelling Kopites try and get their team over the line. A little earlier kick off of 12pm may well get appetites roaring come Easter lunchtime, and the Reds who are the second title-chasing team to play at the weekend, will hope that Chelsea slip up against Sunderland on Saturday evening. Enjoy the game. Lets hope the visitors fire up another three points! YNWA/JFT96.
(Images - Liverpoolfc.com, Gettyimages, Propaganda)
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