Norwich 2 Liverpool 3

“We go to Norwich and do exactly the same. We go again.” Those were the words Steven Gerrard had barked into that huddle of his team-mates following their tumultuous victory over Manchester City last week and here it was a case of following the captain’s orders to the letter. Liverpool yet again won 3-2 with a performance marked by scintillating attacking play and defensive fragility.

Liverpool had their 11th win in succession thanks to two goals from Raheem Sterling and one from Luis Suárez, and following Chelsea surprise defeat against Sunderland their lead at the top of the table has extended to five points. The title charge remain, on.

Norwich suffered a fourth defeat in a row yet can take encouragement from this gutsy display as they continue to work through a daunting set of final fixtures. To come are Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal

Neil Adams, in his first home match in charge of Norwich, made only one change to the side who lost at Fulham, bringing Gary Hooper in for Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Brendan Rodgers had to make two changes to the Liverpool side who beat City, with Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen coming in for the injured Daniel Sturridge and the suspended Jordan Henderson.

Rodgers stuck to his diamond formation but the loss of Sturridge meant a place up front for Philippe Coutinho. However, any hope the hosts had of catching the league leaders out of sorts were blown away inside the opening four minutes after Sterling picked up the Brazilian’s pass across the Norwich area, shifted past Bradley Johnson and unleashed a swerving strike that took a touch off Michael Turner before flying into the top corner of the net.

It was the winger’s ninth goal of an increasingly impressive season and he was involved in the visitors’ second on 11 minutes, collecting Jon Flanagan’s pass and sweeping a cross into the area where Suárez, unmarked, was waiting to guide the ball past Ruddy. It was the Uruguayan’s 30th league goal of the season and his 12th in his last five appearances against these opponents.

It had been another blistering start by Liverpool and in the far corner of the Jarrold Stand the away supporters could once again be heard raucously singing about how their team were going to win the league.

To Norwich’s credit, they did not wilt and instead went in search of a goal of their own. Hooper thought he had a sniff only to see Allen twice block his effort, and from there Liverpool began to reassert control, moving the ball with their trademark purpose and adventure while, in contrast, Norwich continuously gave possession away during those brief moments when had the ball.

It was becoming a frustrating afternoon for Adams's side and Robert Snodgrass reached boiling point in the 29th minute, recklessly lunging into Allen right in front of the Liverpool fans for which the midfielder was deservedly shown a yellow card by the referee, Andre Marriner.

There did come a snapshot from Nathan Redmond that forced Simon Mignolet into a save and it became increasingly obvious that Norwich’s best route back was from wide due to the narrow nature of Liverpool’s midfield. A little while before half-time, Adams switched Redmond and Snodgrass to the opposite flanks but Liverpool continued to stand firm, with Gerrard becoming a greater influence in a position just in front of the back four. Some of his long-range passing was irrepressible.

And it was the captain who instigated another Liverpool move characterised by quick, crisp movement of players and ball that would have led to a third goal the visitors just before half-time had Coutinho been able to keep his curling shot a tad lower.

Having scored a hat-trick in his last two visits to this ground, Suárez was having a relatively quiet game, yet early in the second-half he sprang into life with an excellent lofted pass that found Coutinho by the edge of Norwich’s area. Like he had done early in the first-half, the 21-year-old played an inviting, square pass to Sterling but this time his long-range strike was wide.

Norwich had a reasonable penalty claim when Martin Skrtel appeared to grab Turner’s shirt at a corner and moments later the visitors did score when Hooper knocked the ball into an empty net after Mignolet was beaten in the air by Johnson following Steven Whittaker’s lofted cross.

Norwich had their first goal in month and suddenly it was game on. Yet it was Liverpool who nearly scored again. Their build-up play was swift and having collected possession in an advanced position, Glen Johnson rolled the ball to Suárez who drifted past Bradley Johnson and inside the area before hit a shot which curled just wide of the far post.

No matter as soon it was 3-1 to Liverpool and once again Bradley Johnson was involved. Twice. First he played a lax pass across the pitch which Sterling seized and then, having got back to help out his defence, it was off him that the Liverpool man’s shot deflected and looped over Ruddy. Bradley Johnson banged the turf in frustration but this was also another moment to acclaim Sterling, whose quick reaction and driving run had created the 62nd minute chance in the first place. The 19-year-old’s place in England’s World Cup squad looks assured.

Once again Norwich poured forward and, having collected Leroy Fer’s pass, Snodgrass hit a long-range drive which forced Mignolet into a save. As had been the case against City last week, Liverpool were looking edgy in defence and Skrtel nearly scored an own goal with a backward header off Redmond’s drive.

It was, then, not a major surprise to see Norwich score once again on 77 minutes as Snodgrass rose above Flanagan and diverted Martin Olsson’s cross past Mignolet with an excellent header.

Norwich sensed blood and continued to pour forward. Desperate to stem the tide, Rodgers brought Daniel Agger on for Allen but it was another substitute who stood out in the final stages as Van Wolfswinkel, on for Hooper, directed a header at goal which Mignolet had to be at full-stretch to save.

Liverpool clung on and should have scored a fourth in stoppage time when Lucas collected Suárez’s pass but saw his close-range strike well saved by Ruddy.

No matter, with three matches to play, Liverpool are seven points away from a first title in 24 years.

(Guardian Service)