Liverpool vs. Norwich City – Match Preview 19/1/2013

liverpool vs norwich Match Preview January 19, 2013

Liverpool vs. Norwich City – Match Preview

Venue and Timings

The match kicks off at the Anfield on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 1500 hours BST (2000 hours PST and 2030 hours IST).

Team News

Liverpool

Liverpool have cut short Nuri Sahin’s deal who has returned to his former club Borussia Dortmund on loan. He was not a key player at Liverpool and did not settle in England.

Oussama Assaidi, who had been signed this summer, will also not play as he will be playing the African Cup of Nations with Morocco.

José Enrique and Martin Kelly will remain sidelined sue to their respective injuries.

Rest of the Liverpool squad is fit to play.

Norwich City

Grant Holt is fit after he played as a substitute against Newcastle so he is likely to take back his position in the team.

The defence kept a clean sheet last time so it most likely for the defence to remain the same. Ruddy will take his position in the gal while Whittaker will be at right-back.

Otherwise, rest of the team will remain the same as the Canaries ended their continuous defeats in a row run against Newcastle.

Recent Meetings

Star Man

Luis Suarez (Liverpool) : The 25-year-old Uruguayan attacking midfielder is not an easy one to handle for any defence. Suarez can provide some fatal indirect set-pieces threats. His wonderful dribbling skills have enabled this man to scored 15 goals and make 3 assists in the 21 appearances has made in all competition. Victory could be ensured if they control this man, which is pretty impossible. However, Suarez occasionally plays the dirty game and gets fouled.

Grant Holt (Norwich City) : The 31-year old striker plays as a forward, wearing the #9 shirt at Norwich. He has scored 4 goals and made 2 assists from 16 appearances. He plays as a forward and so is exceptionally good at through-balls and finishing. He often gets fouled but he also often commits fouls. He provides indirect set-piece threat but gets offside very often as well.

My prediction: 2 – 1 to Arsenal. Liverpool last lost away to their fiercest rivals and they would be looking to take out their anger on some other team. With both Sturridge and Suarez on strike, two goals are not many to expect. However, Norwich would be looking to avoid losing again and with Grant Holt back, they could fight  bit against Liverpool at Anfield.

Written by Rida Mehtab (@RidaaMehtaab on Twitter)