It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. They aren’t usually super popular, but I enjoy writing them, so that’s tough. My usual niche is the USMNT and the players associated, but I’m excited for the European leagues to be back again. I’ve missed Saturday mornings full of coffee and soccer.
I know basically nothing about Norwich City and the basics about (listened to the TSS preview) Liverpool. If you’re a hardcore fan of either team, this may be annoying. If you’re a casual like me…hope you enjoy.
Pre-kickoff: Norwich City manager (Daniel Farke) looks like a Die Hard villain. Strong start.
Kickoff
4th minute: Norwich pinned back pretty badly already. I hope this game stays semi-competitive.
5th minute: Some guy named Pukki (pronounced pooky, really?) who looks a bit like Giovanni Ribisi cuts it back for Stiepermann to blast it over.
8th minute: GOAL. Norwich captain (Grant Hanley) Omar Gonzalez-es a clearance into his own net. Not ideal for Norwich. 1-0.
10th minute: Norwich with a nice attack that ends in Stiepermann putting a decent opportunity into geosynchronous orbit. Not a great start from him. Pukki/Ribisi looks pretty good though.
11th minute: Henderson megs a dude. Can we make megs worth like 1/4 a goal?
14th minute: Props to Norwich for going for it. Might not work out but I appreciate the entertainment. Also, great ball out from Alisson – he’s so good.
15th minute: Come on, Pooky! Gotta at least get a shot on target there. Norwich City is a competent attacking team. Bonus.
17th minute: Salah with a nice run after a bad touch from Pooky, but waits too long to shoot or pass.
19th minute: GOAL. Salah scores after a couple pinball bounces in the box go Liverpool’s way. Feel for Norwich here. A couple unlucky breaks go against them and they’re down 2-0 away to Liverpool. This could get ugly.
23rd minute: Sweet little move from Norwich almost works. Might have been offside anyway.
25th minute: Nice dribble from Jamal Lewis. Looking pretty good at left back for a 40 year old running back.
26th minute: Another good move from Norwich ends with a shot ON TARGET from Stiepermann. Sure it was right down the middle, but we’re heading in the right direction.
28th minute: Van Dijk with a goal off a corner. Didn’t even have to jump. Just pushed poor old Jamal Lewis out of the way. 3-0 Liverpool.
31st minute: Really good save from Krul on Firmino. Liverpool with the momentum.
35th minute: The standard of play in the Premier League is so high. Norwich will probably be one of the worst teams in the league and the touches and passing are just so good.
36th minute: Alisson down. Coming off. That’s not good.
41st minute: How did Teemu Pukki not end up a hockey player? I feel like Finland kinda screwed up on this one.
42nd minute: GOAL. Liverpool scores again. Really nice cross from Alexander-Arnold to Origi. 4-0. Really wish TAA had had more of a connection with his American heritage. *sigh*
Halftime
I feel bad for Norwich City. They went for it and created a couple good chances. Seems like 3-1 or so would be a more appropriate scoreline. I hope they keep playing this way and stay up. I know the don’t concede, grind out draws, and stay in the division is the wiser course, but it’s certainly not as fun.
It also feels like Liverpool carried over some of the pressure to win every game from the end of last season. It’s a little crazy how important each game is going to feel to Manchester City and Liverpool. Not much room for error.
2nd Half
48th minute: Origi with a nice cross (Is he really good now? Thought he was more of a placeholder) to Henderson – shot is saved off the crossbar. Salah then with a pass that seemed to violate the laws of physics. Firmino steals a pass from Origi and somehow Liverpool don’t score. Busy minute.
50th minute: Klopp’s teeth are a thing to behold.
Scene – Klopp visits the dentist’s office
Dentist: They won’t get any whiter, Jurgen.
Klopp: *stares silently and intently*
Dentist: Okay. I’ll get some special chemicals out of the back and we’ll whiten them again.
54th minute: Norwich just about uses some impressive skill to play out of the back, but turns it over and Salah barely misses. Small margins.
55th minute: More Liverpool chances. It’s a shooting gallery.
58th minute: Hans Gruber…err…Daniel Farke makes his first sub. It don’t matter who you put in there, man. Save your bullets for next week.
60th minute: Norwich with a yellow. You know in FIFA when you’re getting killed and you’re like, “Let’s see how many red cards I can get?” That’s about where this game is. Except teams don’t do that in real life. More’s the pity.
63rd minute: Norwich off the crossbar. Nice move and a good little spell of play for them.
64th minute: GOAL for Pooky. Excellent through ball from Buendia and a nice “finnish” from Pukki. 4-1. Good for Norwich. Glad they scored.
69th minute: Norwich City getting ready to sub on a dude that looks like Hispanic Gareth Bale. Hope the hair situation turns out better. (On second glance he doesn’t look that much like him – still enjoy making fun of Bale’s balding man bun though)
71st minute: Are we sure Firmino isn’t Chilean? The neck tats and general appearance are a really good fit for the futuristic cyberpunk gang look they’ve cultivated (hat tip to TSS here).
74th minute: TAA with a “heat check 3” shot from deep. Origi off – Mane on. Poor Norwich.
79th minute: I know they’re getting killed, but Norwich has showed real skill quite a few times this game. Color me impressed.
81st minute: Hanley tries to foul Mane, but can’t. Cross is cleared out for a corner.
85th minute: Krul with a nice save on a freekick that TAA absolutely smoked.
90th minute: Norwich City fans singing “1-0 in the second half.” Lol. Quality banter.
Full Time
Pretty good game. Liverpool is still really good (maybe a couple defensive concerns?) and Norwich is halfway decent. I’m just happy the euro leagues are back in action. Enjoy your weekend.
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