

Liverpool players ratings, heroes and villains - four players get 8 but two struggle in Norwich City win
Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Luis Diaz were on target in Liverpool’s victory over Norwich City.
Liverpool made it eight straight wins in all competition as they came from behind to defeat Norwich City 3-1 at Anfield.
Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Luis Diaz were on target for the Reds as they temporarily closed the gap to six points with Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
Liverpool were much the better side in the first half and Kostas Tsimikas spurned a golden chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute.
The left-back somehow hooked his effort over the bar from a few yards out.
Then it was Norwich who had a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock. Teemu Pukki was slipped in and had only Alisson Becker in the home goal to beat - but slid his effort wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Luis Diaz crashed an effort just over the crossbar for the Reds.
The breakthrough arrived in the 48th minute - and it went to the visitors fortuitously.
Milot Rashica’s shot was heading wide but Joel Matip’s attempted block left Alisson rooted to his spot and the ball found the back of the net.
However, Liverpool were back level on 63 minutes through Mane’s acrobatic bicycle kick.
Then Salah conjured up a moment of magic to net his 150th Liverpool goal.
He took down Alisson’s long ball and kept his composure to twist his way past several Canaries defenders and goalkeeper Angus Gunn before rolling a shot home.
Then Diaz had a moment to remember when he beat Norwich’s offside trap and finished beyond Gunn for a deserved first Liverpool goal.
The heroes
- Mo Salah: what a way to bring up his milestone and become only the 10th player to reach 150 Liverpool goals. It was a finish that epitomises Salah’s time at Anfield - ingenious, guile, craft and quality of the top drawer.
- Sadio Mane: Liverpool needed inspiration to find a way back into the game and got it through Mane. Showed brilliance to watch a lopping ball all the way before finishing with a difficult technique. A finish that will be remembered for plenty of years.
- Thiago Alcantara: came on and helped change the game. The Spain international gave Liverpool the control in the engine room that they previously lacked.
The villains
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: struggled to take his chance in his favoured midfield role. A few poor crosses, one overhit free-kick and a couple of cheap fouls given away before he was withdrawn.
- Naby Keita: also couldn’t get a proper foothold in the game. Too passive at times and not enough going forward.

1. Alisson Becker - 7
Brilliant vision to set up Salah and so unlucky not to record a fourth successive clean sheet. Photo: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

2. Joe Gomez - 7
Did well deputising for Trent Alexander-Arnold given his lack of game-time this season. Photo: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

3. Joel Matip - 6
Unfortunate that his attempted block yielded Norwich’s goal. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

4. Virgil van Dijk - 7
Didn’t put a foot wrong. Made a brilliant challenge to thwart Teemu Pukki in the first half. Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images