Reds back on track

Liverpool got their Champions League drive off and running again with a 2-1 win at struggling Norwich.

The Reds needed to bounce straight back from their disappointing 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea on New Year’s Day and there was never any real danger of Rafael Benitez’s men losing further ground on the top four this afternoon.

And, after an indifferent first half, they found the net twice in as many minutes after the break with Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise the men on target.

While Liverpool will now be looking towards the transfer window for the likes of Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes to spearhead their hopes of European football, Norwich boss Nigel Worthington will need little reminding he must strengthen his squad – both at the back and in attack – if the Canaries are to avoid the drop, despite a late consolation goal from promising youngster Ryan Jarvis.

Liverpool had been gifted an early opening when home goalkeeper Robert Green miskicked his clearance up field but Neil Mellor – one of four changes to the starting line-up – could only fire the ball well wide from the right, before Riise then had a shot from the edge of the box charged down.

Norwich again played with just Leon McKenzie in attack but the former Peterborough marksman was being well marshalled by Sami Hyypia.

The hosts did have a chance, though, when the ball dropped to Gary Doherty at the far post from a corner after eight minutes but the centre-back shot wide.

The match was then held up to allow Mattias Jonson treatment to a nasty gash following a clash of heads with Riise and Norwich were temporarily down to 10 men while the Sweden winger – just back fit after suffering concussion – went off down the tunnel to be patched up.

After 20 minutes Steve Finnan checked Darren Huckerby a yard outside the left edge of the area and the resulting free-kick found Doherty at the back post but he headed over.

In the 25th minute Steven Gerrard cut inside and flashed a 25-yard drive only just wide of Green’s left-hand post.

As the half-hour approached Norwich failed to clear their lines following Stephen Warnock’s flick into the box and Craig Fleming was a relieved man when his tame header fell to Riise but was fired wide from six yards by the Norwegian.

Francis then went into the book for a late, sliding challenge on Hyypia after he had lost possession in the centre-circle during a promising move.

The Liverpool defender then left Jonson in a heap on the floor after clattering him from behind, but escaped without punishment from Howard Webb.

Neither side made any changes at half-time and it was Norwich who started brightly.

In the 52nd minute, Steve Finnan went into the book after tackling Huckerby to the ground on the left flank. McKenzie got up well to meet the resulting free-kick into the six-yard box but failed to produce any power on his header to trouble Jerzy Dudek.

Huckerby then got clear again and his cutback from the byline appeared to strike Carragher’s arm but at such point-blank range a penalty would have been somewhat harsh.

Then out of nothing, Norwich found themselves behind in the 57th minute after they lost possession on the edge of the Liverpool area.

Riise’s long, cross-field pass over the Norwich defence picked out Luis Garcia who coolly dispatched a lob over Green and into the net from just inside the box.

Liverpool then made a change just after the hour, bringing on Florent Sinama-Pongolle for Mellor, and the switch was to have an instant impact as it was soon 2-0.

Fleming’s clearance from the edge of the box cannoned into the Frenchman and his shot was well stopped one-handed by Green but the goalkeeper could do little as Riise followed up to smash the ball in at the far post.

With 12 minutes remaining Worthington threw England Under-19 striker Jarvis into the action for Francis and he produced a neat finish in the 88th minute, collecting Jonson’s flick on to cut inside substitute Djimi Traore and fire an angled drive past Dudek from 15 yards.

It was nothing more than a consolation for the home side, who will need to find a cutting edge in the final third if they are to play Liverpool in the league again next season.