When Reds captain Steven Gerrard said he wanted exactly the same as Man City in today's encounter against Premier League strugglers Norwich City, the players around him may have taken it far too seriously. The scoreline doesn't really tell the story as Liverpool made it 11 consecutive wins while also confirming football in the Champions League proper next season. It was a brilliant 4 days for the men from Merseyside and they didn't even have to kick a ball. Manchester City slipped up and could only manage a draw in midweek against Sunderland in their game in hand, while the Black Cats also managed to inflict more damage to LFC's title rivals with a win over Chelsea on Saturday evening. Fabio Borini and Oussama Assaidi, two of the table-topper's loaned-out players, have probably done more for Liverpool in the title race than the two players brought in on loan in Victor Moses and Aly Cissokho. Borini scored from the spot at Stamford Bridge to confirm victory against Chelsea, whilst Assaidi also helped his parent club's cause by scoring the winning goal at the Britannia for Stoke against the West London side in a 2-1 win earlier in the season. A win for Liverpool against Norwich means that they are now five points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.The suspension of Jordan Henderson was the real cause for concern and also cause for a change in formation and personnel, while Daniel Sturridge didn't end up making the trip down to Norfolk due to a hamstring injury. Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva came in and were looking to prove themselves as the Reds lined up with five in midfield to dominate their potentially dangerous opponents. There was no doubt, as a fan, that I was nervous about this one. But I wasn't as nervous as last Sunday against City, but nevertheless this one was a huge game also.
The first opportunity of the game came inside just 4 minutes and was once again absolutely brilliant for Liverpool and the travelling Kopites after yet another speedy start. Raheem Sterling was described by Rodgers after the game as "the best young talent in European football at the moment" and the 19 year old proved his class and current form in the early moments of this one. He took the ball from about 25 yards out, and after taking a couple of touches to set up, fired a thunderous strike at goal straight past Ruddy and into the top corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors at Carrow Road. The spotlight was on Luis Suarez, who has scored two hat-tricks in the past two visits to the South East against Norwich, and the men in the yellow strip certainly tried to the minimise movement of the Uruguayan. But in the process, they were still forgetting that Sterling is too becoming a threat and now has nine league goals to his name this season. He was very bright and very quick, going past his opponents as if they weren't there, as was Philippe Coutinho who scored the winner against Man City. Sterling caused trouble and almost won Liverpool a penalty just three minutes after the goal, all before a Hooper header went wide of the target, while a Joe Allen shot was also saved brilliantly by John Ruddy at the other end. 
So with the redmen now, because of this result, automatically into the UEFA Champions League group stage line up next season, it begs the question of who to sign in the summer and in what areas. Surely we would like to see almost all of the same strong starting eleven that played against Man City and continue the same brilliant mentality and quality in the opening game of the 2014/15 Premier League season. But its going to be very difficult to concentrate on two of the biggest trophies in world football instead of just one. Before I continue here, I am not in any way really thinking about anything other than Chelsea next week, but this match and the end of the season in general and its effect on players does raise the issue of trying to cope with future pressure. I heard a caller on the radio after the game call Glen Johnson a "liability" before the host of the show said that the comment was "harsh".
But to the second half then and whatever new Norwich boss Neil Adams said to his players at half time, it obviously worked. His side almost capitalised on a poor second half performance from the Reds with what could have been a vital three points at the bottom of the table. The home side won an early corner after the break before Mignolet cleared the ball from his box and having to come off of his line to retrieve it and prevent Norwich from responding. Despite a Sterling shot five minutes after the restart, the Norfolk outfit really put the pressure on, with Skrtel heading the ball clear before the corner that lead to the third goal of the afternoon. The more time went on, the larger threat that Gary Hooper was becoming. The former Celtic striker tapped the ball into an empty net to make it 2-1 in the 54th minute after Mignolet failed to clearly punch away the ball and Sakho also failing to reach the goalscorer. 
Seven minutes later and the Canaries were knocking on the door for another reply, a Redmond shot was diverted away from goal by Skrtel shortly after a Hooper shot had to be turned away by a busy Mignolet once again. Liverpool couldn't hold on to the two goal lead over their opponents after a 77th minute goal from Snodgrass. The Norwich man headed brilliantly into the far corner to make it 3-2 and now once again a narrow margin over another Premier League opponent. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel came on as a substitute and headed the ball at Mignolet before the Reds should have got their fourth goal when Suarez was through in on goal and passed to a nearby Lucas who twice failed to find the net. Full time - 3-2 to Liverpool, once again!
I can't wait for Champions League nights back at Anfield and that will surely get the city buzzing once again, but now we have to focus on the title.
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