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| Craig Bellamy celebrates his first of the season |
Craig Bellamy scored his first league goal of the season as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich.
The Welshman scored a crucial goal on the end of a dominant first half display, only for Grant Holt to snatch a point for Norwich on the hour mark.
A mosaic reading ”JFT 96” was erected on the Kop before kick off in correspondence to the parliament debate for full disclosure of Hillsborough documents.
The inclusion of Bellamy in the first XI seemed somewhat of a shock, leaving Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson starting on the bench for the second consecutive game. Glen Johnson Made his first start of the season after injuries in place of Martin Kelly. Gerrard and Adam were deployed in the centre in the absence of the suspended Lucas Leiva who picked up his 5th yellow card of the campaign last week.
Liverpool had started brightly; in the second minute Martin Skrtel struck the upright with a header from a corner. Then Suarez came close when a cheeky turn on the edge of the area left him through on goal, but he couldn’t find a finish to match the build up.
Charlie Adam then rocketed a pinpoint 40 yard pass to Bellamy who skipped past the defender and found Suarez with the cross. The Uruguayan struck it first time only to be denied by a combination of Ruddy’s fingertips and the post.
Norwich were hanging on, they couldn’t keep the Reds attacking fluidity at bay. The passing was direct and the movement was threatening.
Pepe Reina was relatively quite, but Hoolahan fired from an acute angle forcing a save from the Spanish ‘keeper. The Canaries reminding Liverpool that they’re still in the contest.
Liverpool looked the more likely to take the lead and came close again when a fumble by John Ruddy allowed Luis Suarez to collect the ball but he was unable to find Dirk Kuyt in the box.
Finally the deserved breakthrough came via Craig Bellamy. Russell Martin had brought down Suarez but Bellamy stormed through to collect the loose ball and slotted past Ruddy with a deflection to give the Reds the lead on the stroke of half time.
Norwich, however were still in the game and lucky not to be 4 or 5 goals down.
After the restart Anthony Pilkington came close but his shot was straight at Reina, allowing him to make a comfortable save.
The post then denied Suarez for the second time and Liverpool’s third. After a sublime piece of skill on the edge of the area, nutmegging Barnett but his shot was deflected onto the post. The Uruguayan was everywhere bar the score sheet, consistently pestering the Norwich defence but to no avail.
On the hour mark Norwich’s resilience was rewarded. Anthony Pilkington delivered an enticing cross, which was met by Grant Holt to nod home between two defenders and Reina. The Spaniard had come steaming out to collect the ball but it seemed like the wrong decision as it left the Norwich forward with a simple task of directing his header on target.
The Reds definitely rued their missed chances throughout the game; the result should’ve been put beyond Norwich within the opening 20 minutes. However Norwich dug in and found themselves level.
Norwich nearly went ahead shortly after. Grant Holt was unmarked at the back post and directed his header across goal only to be kept out by an outstanding Pepe Reina save.
Liverpool set out for a win, Henderson was introduced for the lively Bellamy, a somewhat bewildering substitution considering how the Welshman played. Again it was Suarez pulling the strings to restore order but it was just one of those days for the Uruguayan.
Carroll was then introduced and very nearly gave the Reds a vital late goal to clinch victory but his towering header narrowly flew past the post.
A Suarez volley was then turned over by the impressive Ruddy right at the death to deny Liverpool once again.
Liverpool had amassed 29 attempts for just one goal. They rued their missed chances and will need to improve on their finishing if they want to return to the prestigious Champions League.
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