Premier League preview: Liverpool v Norwich City

16 January 2013 17:38

Liverpool must rediscover their killer instinct following a less-than-inspiring display against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Reds slumped to a 2-1 defeat following back-to-back Premier League wins and despite Daniel Sturridge's second-half goal will feel they did not deliver when the heat was on.

But for a 25-minute spell in the second half, Brendan Rodgers' side were not in the contest on a stage Liverpool could surely have underlined their development with a breakthrough performance.

The Reds are still yet to defeat a top-10 side this season, something that will be playing on Rodgers' mind despite the side's gradual upturn in form ahead of Sunday's clash with Norwich.

After seven largely frustrating draws in their opening 13 Premier League fixtures, Liverpool must continue to deliver wins and claw their way up the table to validate the work Rodgers has done to transform the squad and its style of play.

Luis Suarez was well on Sunday but terrorised the Canaries with a hat-trick in a 5-2 win last time Liverpool played Norwich in September.

He will again be the integral figure at Anfield on Saturday and may be joined in attack by January signing Sturridge, who scored barely 10 minutes after coming off the bench.

The Uruguayan looked isolated in the first half but was freed up by the added dimension Sturridge's driving runs provided in the second.

Norwich's season continues nosedive with Sunday's goalless draw at home to Newcastle the first point Chris Hughton's side had picked up in five Premier League games.

Top scorer for the past three seasons Grant Holt remains Hughton's primary concern after he came off during his return to the side from a hamstring injury against Newcastle.

Hughton resisted the temptation to start Holt even though the burly striker has again been at the heart of almost all of Norwich success.

Holt was in the starting 11 for all six of Norwich's wins this season and not so in five of the six games the side has lost.

"We've had to tread carefully with Grant over the past couple of weeks," Hughton admitted.

"What's far more important is that we have Grant available for next week, the week after and the week after."