Liverpool 5 Norwich 0:Gauging Liverpool's progress under Brendan Rodgers is an inexact science but there was substance to their haul against Norwich City. It took until the final home game of last season, against a Chelsea team seemingly immersed in FA Cup celebrations, for Liverpool to record six league wins at Anfield. They reached the half-dozen on Saturday with an authority that reinforced their erratic nature under Kenny Dalglish's successor.
There are, however, signs that Rodgers is getting it right and their captain, Steven Gerrard, thinks so. “He’s certainly got the backing of the owners,” he said. “I think the appointment, giving him the job after Kenny, was a sign that he’s going to be here for a while. I think he’ll be given time to put his philosophy out there.
Consistent
“It’s not going to happen overnight, it is going to take time and we’ve been a little bit inconsistent this season.
“But I think the majority of the games we’ve shown to the supporters and to the neutrals out there that we’re playing the right way. Given time, and a little bit more backing – maybe a few more players – I think it will work really well under him. I’m really happy with his appointment and how it’s going so far.”
Aston Villa apart, Liverpool have often dismissed teams in the bottom half of the Premier League this term and once Jordan Henderson awoke a frozen Anfield with an opening goal as impressive as his overall performance Norwich were to be no exception.
Victory over a team in the top 10 remains elusive for Liverpool but before trips to Arsenal and Manchester City the morale-sapping defeat at Manchester United was erased in emphatic style.
Henderson began the rout with an unstoppable finish past Mark Bunn. Norwich’s tormentor-in-chief, Luis Suarez, scored his seventh goal in three games against them following an exquisite dummy from his new partner Daniel Sturridge, who then, with a tap-in from Stewart Downing’s cross, became the first Liverpool player since Ray Kennedy in 1974 to score in his first three club appearances.
Vindicated
Gerrard marked a commanding performance from central midfield – “he used every club in his bag today,” remarked Rodgers – with a trademark finish from almost 30 yards before Ryan Bennett diverted the fifth and final Liverpool goal into his own net from Raheem Sterling’s shot.
It was the combination of Suarez and Sturridge that offered Liverpool hope. Their understanding vindicated Rodgers’ belief that Suarez’s influence would not wane as a result of Sturridge occupying the central striking role.
The Norwich performance was a cause of understandable concern for the Norwich manager, Chris Hughton. His team have now gone six league games without a win and, with a limited attacking threat at Anfield, they lacked the quality to react to falling one goal behind. The motivation behind their attempts to sign Gary Hooper from Celtic or Danny Graham from Swansea City was evident.
