Jurgen Klopp promised a "wild style" when he became Liverpool manager and the 5-4 win over Norwich was definitely unrestrained
Nine goals. Two scored in added time - one each for either side. A penalty given, with two more that could’ve been awarded. Adam Lallana’s shirt off and Jurgen Klopp’s spectacles broken.
Liverpool's win over Norwich in Saturday’s early kick-off may have been low on quality, but it was stuffed with entertainment.
The visiting manager went from full-out fury when Sebastien Bassong made it 4-4 on 92 minutes, to a state of utter ecstasy when Lallana fired in the winner with seconds remaining. It was heavy metal, it was wild, it was loud.
That Liverpool could have potentially killed the game off just three minutes after Roberto Firmino opened the scoring in the first half was almost forgotten by the end given all that followed. The Brazilian turned from goalscorer to provider, supplying James Milner who couldn’t get his shot away quickly enough. Klopp admitted afterwards: “We should have scored the second goal at 1-0. We didn't do this. Then the game changed.”
It didn’t just change, it chaotically swung through extremes.
After Firmino’s first, Liverpool conceded thrice through brainless defending, which Klopp honestly and cuttingly described as “rubbish” afterwards. They continued the trend of conceding from a setpiece situation as well as succumbing to the opposition’s first shot on target.
The Merseysiders have let in eight goals by not properly dealing with a corner, which is the most in the Premier League. And in all four of their top-tier games so far in 2016, the opponents have netted from their first accurate attempt.
Dieumerci Mbokani’s sublime backheel to make it 1-1 was a case of Liverpool not clearing their lines and switching off to danger. That was a recurrent theme at the back. Steven Naismith made it 2-1 just before the interval with Simon Mignolet getting beat from a criminal angle after Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Alberto Moreno fell asleep to Norwich’s untracked runs. The latter then stupidly fouled Naismith twice in the box to concede a penalty, which Wes Hoolahan converted.
When it seemed as though that was as mad as the game could get with Norwich 3-1 up, Henderson and Firmino struck within eight minutes to even matters. Milner finished off a one-on-one to put Liverpool in the lead for the first time since the 18th minute, before the unreal scenes at the end.
The twist from Bassong’s low 20-yard shot to Lallana’s first-time volley was arguably the most absorbing piece of play in the Premier League this season. And the England international’s shirt-off celebration, which saw him run and jump into the arms of his manager inviting a pile-on of players and staff, was the sort of scene that tattoos to the memory.
Liverpool’s faults are multiple: the side is short of star quality, there’s a deficiency in both attacking and defending setpieces, the work in both boxes needs to sharpen up...
But in the space of 10 days, they have produced a 3-3 at home to Arsenal and this 5-4 away. Both saw a vital late goal, which prior to Klopp’s arrival, felt like a myth at times.
In November, Liverpool fans flooded out of Anfield following Scott Dann's header on 82 minutes to put Crystal Palace 2-1 up, because they did not expect their team to conjure an equaliser at the death.
Since then, the Reds have rescued five points with three late shows, which includes the 2-2 draw with West Brom.
Liverpool have not fully latched on to all of Klopp’s footballing ideals and methods, but a refusal to give in is certainly a trait he has tried to imbue in the squad.
And despite their frailties, the club have been involved in several of the best games this season: last week’s showpiece with Arsenal, the 6-1 against Southampton, 4-1 at Manchester City, 3-1 away to Chelsea and Saturday’s nine-goal epic with Norwich.
Klopp wants Liverpool to “play football people want to talk about” and they've certainly done that.
- Goal