Canaries have their work cut out on matchday one

Norwich City’s long term shallow pocketed recruitment policy may scupper them again this season. There has not been anything in their summer additions that will replace the services of Emiliano Buendia but also suggests they will get on any better than in 2019/20. Maybe this time they will sack Daniel Farke mid season, but there are far too many similarities between this squad and the one that finished 20th two campaigns ago to predict anything other than a tough season. They began 2019/20 with a trip to Anfield, this time it is the reverse fixture, and though they may keep it tighter this time around, it is a mismatch.

Background

Christos Tzolis and Milot Rashica are exciting signings for the Canaries but the board are still asking a lot of the squad and Daniel Farke if they are expecting to finish outside of the bottom three. Josh Sargent also comes in from Werder Bremen, good signing, but will he hit the ground running, seems unlikely.

Ibrahima Konate is the marquee for Liverpool this signing, providing competition for places with Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Nathaniel Phillips for who will partner key man Virgil Van Dijk when he returns from injury. Captain Jordan Henderson is set to be an important figure once again this season, really maturing into the role now aged 31.

The familiar front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will likely be in operation at Carrow Road with Diogo Jota and potentially even 18-year-old livewire Harvey Elliott providing competition for places. Without another defensive injury crisis the Reds look dead certain to finish comfortably inside the top four this season and a trip to Norwich is a must win, be it opening day or not.

The newly restored home advantage and first game of the season motivation may take Norwich so far, but in context that in my eyes would be restricting the Reds to a winning margin of two or three goals. Teemu Pukki is not going to get any better at the age of 31 and there is not a reliable replacement in attack, the Buendia void will be evident in this fixture, with Farke’s men beginning their mountainous still unsure on how they are going to cope without the Argentinian.

Liverpool are very short favourites for a reason, so I have chosen a goals based play using the bet365 Bet Builder in looking to find value. The Reds can keep a clean sheet here.

Norwich City Vs Liverpool Betting Tip

Under 3.5 goals + Norwich City to Score Under 1.5 goals with bet365 at odds of 26/25 or 2.03.

Bet Under 3.5 goals + Norwich City to Score Under 1.5 goals on Bet365