Everyone in the Anfield empire remained hopeful after Victory that the Germans’ incredible nine-year rule would come to an end in May with more cutlery.
The lengthy, four-month farewell to Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool started with an FA Cup fourth-round victory over Norwich, which was maybe understandable given the sense that the German manager might be preparing for a spectacular conclusion.
With goals from Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, and Virgil van Dijk, Klopp’s squad advanced to a last-16 matchup with either Southampton or Watford.
And the triumph kept everyone in the Anfield empire hopeful that more cutlery will be awarded in May, capping the Germans’ incredible nine-year reign.
After all, Klopp has only led Liverpool to this point three times in nine previous efforts, in a competition that is often considered to be way down his list of priorities.
With Liverpool guaranteed a spot in the EFL Cup Final the following month, a commanding lead at the top of the league table, and a Europa League Final in Dublin in May, few would wager against Liverpool finishing with the maximum 29 games remaining under Klopp’s leadership and taking home a trophy or two.
After it was shockingly revealed that Klopp would be leaving in May, there appeared to be a little more emotional performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” prior to kickoff, and there was more media coverage of the Liverpool dugout than usual as he took over.
Additionally, a lot more of the Klopp terrace tribute, which was performed to the Beatles song “I Feel Fine,” were broadcast.
Klopp quipped, “I told you not to sing the song during the game.” “And it’s a good thing since nobody is listening to me anymore.
It’s alright. That’s over if I was superstitious about singing the song because we won the game and scored after that.
“My job is emotional, but I have to pull myself together because it’s not always easy.” I am composed of more than wood, and I have read every message that has been delivered to me. I understand all of this.
It was excellent. I’m not here to give instructions; this is the first game after. We play again on Wednesday, and it would be fantastic if we could put aside the 95–100 minutes that the manager is departing at the end of the season in order to cause Chelsea as much discomfort as possible.
“I’m sure people are aware of that. Everything about this afternoon was fantastic.
The fact that David Wagner, Klopp’s close buddy, made six changes from Norwich’s previous league lineup definitely helped, and it was expected that they would go behind early on.
On the sixteenth minute, Jones, who was not marked, headed in a flawless far-post delivery chipped in by the teenage James McConnell, who was making his Liverpool debut.
The advantage was surprisingly short lived as Liverpool gave up after Norwich’s opening attempt, allowing a corner from which Ben Gibson headed in Gabriel Sara’s cross.
Unfazed, outstanding right-back Conor Bradley initiated a move shortly after, and on minute 28, Nunez converted his precise through ball.
And eight minutes into the second half, Jota scored a superb goal after Gibson misheaded a wonderful long pass from Jones, eliminating any chance of an unexpected Norwich comeback.
If Liverpool was thinking about saying farewell to Klopp, the third goal gave fans a chance to say hello to another legendary player, Andy Robertson, who came off the bench to return from an almost four-month injury layoff.
The celebrations for Robertson’s comeback were only beginning to fade when the other two substitutes, Dominik Szoboszlai and van Dijk, combined to score Liverpool’s fourth goal on minute 63. Van Dijk firmly headed the former’s corner home from a distance of twelve yards.
However, after some poor home defence, Norwich got some solace when substitute Borja Sainz scored the game’s first goal from 25 yards out on minute 70.
And deep into additional time, with almost the last kick of the match, Bradley’s outstanding afternoon ended in a cross that Ryan Gravenberch headed in at the far post.
“We set ourselves that objective, and I wanted to win, he wanted to win,” said Wagner, a personal friend and fellow countryman of Klopp. “And, as usual, I lost.”
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Jota 7, D Nunez 7 (Alexander-Arnold 65, 5), Gakpo 6, Gravenberch 6, McConnell 7 (Diaz 78, 5), Jones 8 (Szoboszlai 55, 6); Alisson 6; Bradley 7; Quansah 6; Konate 6 (van Dijk 55, 6), Gomez 6 (Robertson 55, 6).
Kelleher, Elliott, Clark, and Beck were not substituted in.
NORWICH (4-5-1): Fassnacht 7 (Giannoulis 84), M Nunez 6, McLean 5, Sara 5, Hernandez 5 (Sainz 61, 6); Barnes 5 (Idah 61, 5); Long 8; Stacey 5, Hanley 5 (Sorensen 61, 5), Gibson 6, McCallum 5 (Gibbs 84).
Subs not used: Fisher, Placheta, Ansen, Gunn.
S. Barrott is the referee. 7.
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