Liverpool 1-0 Norwich: Late winners are more design than luck

Liverpool left it late to beat Norwich in the Premier League in a victorious pattern that seems to be more by design than luck.

Once again the lads played just well enough take full marks. A 77th minute goal from a subbed in Sadio Mane (returning from injury after missing three fixtures) makes him MOTM for me.

Jordan Henderson’s over the top pass to Mane in the box is world class in this wind. Great assist! He’s proved all of his doubters wrong over the past 12 months and is now in some fine form, racking up goals and assists for fun.

I’m left wondering if this style of play isn’t by design? Only playing up to the competition for 75 minutes, and then because of fitness and squad quality levels, that outshine opposing sides, take over a match to win in the twilight of fixtures?

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• Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures

Hmmm, is Jürgen really that much of a gambler to take those kind of chances by playing in 2nd and 3rd gear for most of a record setting season?

The lanky German gaffer is a cagey fellow, and there are layers unseen behind that toothy Cheshire Cat grin. This is at least nine or 10 times this season that I can remember where Liverpool left it late to escape dropped points. This for me, is too often to be mere coincidence any longer.

So I’m left wondering if this might be a plan from the start, to keep players fresher over the entirety of a campaign instead of running out of gas as many teams do in the spring when injuries and dead legs become paramount.

This is a hard lesson ‘Kloppo’ learned at Dortmund, so it wouldn’t surprise me in the least that this is all part of a much larger design. Here’s a clue; I bet you see a different gear come Tuesday.

Allez, Allez, Allez!!! On to Madrid and Atletico!

Up the Reds!!!

Words by Paul Landwehr