Norwich claim draw away to profligate Liverpool

Daniel Sturridge's return failed to lift Liverpool as they limped to a 1-1 draw with Norwich at Anfield after Russell Martin cancelled out Danny Ings' opener.

Norwich managed to hold on in the first half despite sustained pressure from Liverpool. The problem was for the home side that despite Sturridge playing for the first time since March, they failed to create much of note.

It was Sturridge who went closest, putting a one-on-one effort with John Ruddy too close to the 'keeper, but Philippe Coutinho and Nathaniel Clyne both had shots from distance that went wide.

Norwich had little of their own in attack, with Simon Mignolet called into action when Graham Dorrans and Cameron Jerome teamed up to force Mignolet to clear.

In the second half, substitute Ings put Liverpool into an early lead, converting a smart pass from Javi Moreno, but Norwich hit back with Russell Martin's clever goal assisted by a woeful Mignolat flap at a corner.

Sturridge left just after the hour mark with Norwich trailing, and saw his teammates find it impossible to grab a winner, with Coutinho spurning the best chance as he shot straight at the goalkeeper in a one-on-one late on, despite having an unmarked team-mate in the box.

33' - RUDDY SAVE - Coutinho spots Sturridge in an incredible amoount of space on the inside right, and he has an age to shoot, but Ruddy can get a hand to it as his effort is far too close.

48' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Norwich City. Ings scores - Ings runs in behind the defence after Moreno chips in a quick pass from a loose ball, and he slots his shot past Ruddy to put Liverpool ahead.

55' - COUTINHO EFFORT - Coutinho flashes another shot over the top corner. Two yards inide the box, two yards over the bar at most.

61' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Norwich. Martin scores - Norwich win a corner on the right wing. Brady swings it in, Mignolet flaps it to Martin who chests it down and toes the ball over Mignolet to equalise.

65' - MIGNOLET SAVE - Redmond fires in a near post cross that Jarvis attempts to turn in, but Mignolet spreads himself to block.

66' - MORENO SHOT - With room to shoot for Moreno, Ruddy beats away his rising shot from inside the box.

73' - RUDDY SAVE - Firmino is teed up by Milner with a tight angle to shoot from, and his fierce shot is blocked for a corner.

78' - COUTINHO CHANCE - Liverpool break down the right, Coutinho is put into so much space that he could throw cats all around him and not hit a single person. Instead, he ignores that temptation to drive on towards goal, and wastes so much time that Ruddy has time to come out, and make any shot on goal almost impossible, and he blocks.

Lucas Leiva made his 200th Premier League appearance today - only three South Americans have made more (C.Tevez, A.Valencia & N.Solano).

Daniel Sturridge made his first Premier League start in nearly six months (first since March 22nd 2015).

Danny Ings scored just 2:54 after coming on as a half-time substitute in this match. It was his first touch in the game.

Russell Martin now has three Premier League goals this season; the top scoring defender in 2015-16 (ahead of Kompany & Ward - two each).

Martin has scored as many goals in his last five Premier League games (3) as he did in his previous 86 apps in the competition.

Liverpool are on a 11 match unbeaten run against the Canaries in the Premier League, winning nine and drawing two.

How much longer does Brendan Rodgers have? Humiliating defeats are often the last moment for a manager at a side, but such a drab showing that demonstrates a poverty of ideas and inspiration can be just as telling. Liverpool's board will need to see immediate improvement if they aren't to start speculating on other available managerial options.

John Ruddy (Norwich City): Liverpool dominated possession and the chances made, so it was always going to be up to the Norwich 'keeper to redress the balance. Liverpool didn't make it as hard for Ruddy as they could have, firing plenty of shots at, rather than away from, him, but he nevertheless made sure not to throw the game away.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 5, Clyne 6, Skrtel 6, Sakho 6, Moreno 6, Lucas, Can 5, Milner 5, Coutinho 5, Benteke 6, Sturridge 6. Subs: Firmino 6, Lallana 6, Ings 6.

NORWICH: Ruddy 7, Whittaker 6, Martin 6, Bassong 6, Brady 6, Redmond 6, Dorrans 5, Tettey 5, Jarvis 6, Howson 6, Jerome 6. Subs: Grabban 6.