Three(3) months absence from the English Premier League seemed like forever but thank goodness, the long wait is over as the bread and butter of the EPL returns on Friday night and what a historical place to start. EFL champion and recently promoted club side Norwich City travelled to the Anfield to take on last season's EPL nearly champion Liverpool in what can be described as a mismatch on paper, however, football has shown and proven to followers time and again that there is no such word as a mismatch in the modern game.
Home Team; Liverpool FC:
Liverpool went agonizingly close to winning the 2018/19 EPL but missed out with just a point to champion Manchester City, however, the heartbreak was swiftly swept under the carpet with the capture of the biggest price of all; the UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, the whole world is anxiously waiting to see how Liverpool will respond to the new season's challenges and if they will be able to push all the way for the title once again.
They start their campaign with a seemingly simple fixture on home turf against Norwich City, as the bookmakers expect nothing short of the 3 maximum points for the home side. With 1 more day in the transfer window, Liverpool is yet to bring in any big-name signing as Manager Jurgen Klopp submitted to the club's unwillingness to do so having spent big in the past 2 seasons where they brought in Van Dijk, Naby Keita, Alisson Baker etc, nevertheless, Klopp has his full squad at his disposal and with no player on the treatment table, and so has no reason to be worried ahead of Friday kick-off has his team still possess tremendous firepower to take down Norwich City.
Away Team; Norwich City:
Norwich City can place no foot wrong at the moment, the Canaries as they are popularly called had a remarkable EFL run where they mostly stay at the top spot all season and eventually won it ahead of Sheffield United and Leeds United, and earned an automatic return to the English Premier League after 3 season's absence.
A lot of accolades had been showered on Norwich German head coach Daniel Farke(who became the club's 1st foreign head coach in their 114 historic years) on how he sets up his team with a pacey and possessive brand of football, and spare heading Norwich's attack is the Finland international Teemu Pukki who scored 29 goals en route promotion. However, Norwich will be desperate to avoid immediate relegation(like they got relegated in 2015/16 season having gained promotion in the season before), following in footsteps of Fulham and Cardiff City.
Head-To-Head; Liverpool vs Norwich City:
Liverpool has had a poor preseason warmup matches, having lost 4(including last weekend English FA community shield defeat to Manchester City), drew 1 and won just 1 of their last 6 warmup matches. Norwich, on the other hand, fared better with her tuneup games, won 3, lost 2 and drew 1. However, like it is always the case, preseason matches are just to put the players n shape and thus, the results offer no consequences on the league results.
One(1) thing that however plays a psychological effect on teams is the head-to-head stats. The last time both teams met in an EPL match was in January 2016, Norwich City's last campaign in top-flight football before relegation, and it was a goal feast at Carrow Road which Liverpool edged 5-4, and they(Liverpool) also holds the advantage in the last 5 clashes winning 4 and drawing just 1.
Prediction:
It is not quite certain if Liverpool's Senegalese ace Sadio Mane will take any part in the match against Norwich having missed the community shield clash due to an extended holiday, nonetheless, their 2nd-half display against Manchester City showed that they still are an unstoppable force. However, with Van Dijk been dribbled past by a player(Gabriel Jesus) for the 1st time in 65 matches, Norwich Teemu Pukki will fancy his chances against Liverpool defence.
Liverpool 3-0 Norwich City is my prediction.
The EPL is back and other European leagues are around the corner, soccer lovers can sit back and enjoy the Thrills and Spills of the new footballing season, Y'all have an exciting season. Thanks.
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