Table-toppers Liverpool moved 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League charts after Sadio Mane’s second-half strike ensured a 1-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday evening.
Mane, who was returning to the first-team action after injury, came on as a substitute to score the only goal of the tense Carrow Road match in the 78th minute.
Latching onto Jordan Henderson’s ball into the box, the striker struck at the near post to finally give the Reds a lead against a spirited Norwich backline while also helping the Anfield side gain yet another win.
Although Liverpool signalled their intent in the game within just 13 seconds of the match as Trent Alexander-Arnold fired a shot towards goal from distance, however, that went just wide.
Soon Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain too tried with their unsuccessful efforts minutes later.
Liverpool continued to grow in the game but found clear-cut opportunities hard to come by during the first half.
However, it was Norwich who had the best chance to go up in the first half as a long ball over the top sent Lukas Rupp through on goal wherein, he was joined by Teemu Pukki. Rupp tried to play his teammate inside the area, but the pass was expertly cut out by Liverpool’s No.1 Alisson Becker.
Liverpool almost took the lead in the hour mark when Keita’s effort from distance was tipped over before Krul saved a Virgil van Dijk header from the resulting corner.
Soon Mohamed Salah brilliantly brought down a swirling ball under control to get a shot away, however, that was parried out by Krul into the path of Keita, but the Dutchman was quickly up to bat away the rebound.
Soon, Mane and Fabinho were then introduced to the proceedings. Soon after Henderson aimed a diagonal ball towards a surrounded Mane inside the Norwich penalty area who managed to get the ball before performing a swivel to strike a powerful low effort that finally outdid Krul.
In the closing moments, the hosts had their best chance of all, with the substitute Emi Buendía sending Pukki clear of Virgil van Dijk only for him to hit a tame shot into Alisson’s arms.
Liverpool held on their nerves as they secured their 25th win of the top-flight campaign.
