Missing Lucas Leiva through suspension, Dalglish opted for an attacking line-up, bringing in Craig Bellamy for his first league start since rejoining the Reds in August, but Record signing Andy Carroll again had to make do with a place on the bench.
In a blistering start by the home side, Martin Skrtel headed a Stewart Downing corner against the bar, then Norwich stopper John Ruddy produced a marvellous save to turn Luis Suarez' goalbound effort on to the post. Suarez then brilliantly turned three Norwich defenders before firing wide. The Uruguayan's third shot in the opening 10 minutes saw the ball roll past he far post after Suarez had latched on to Glen Johnson's pass.
Shell-shocked, Norwich finally got into the game, when Wes Hoolahan forced Reina into a save. Ten minutes. Later, Welsh International striker Steve Morison met a flighted corner, which Reina did well to keep out.
As the half continued, the home side continued to dominate possession, but surprisingly didn't find themselves ahead. But on the stroke of half-time, they finally found the breakthrough. After all the nice one-touch moves the home side had put together, it was ironic that the goal would come from a lump upfield from Jose Enrique. With Suarez trying to get clear, Canaries defender Leon Barnett got his body in the way, but could only divert the ball into the path of the onrushing Bellamy, who took his time before coolly slotting the ball into the net via Marc Tierney's heel. It was a sweet moment for Bellamy, who started his career with the Carrow Road outfit 14 years ago.
After a talking to by boss Paul Lambert, Norwich started the second half brightly, with Anthony Pilkington forcing Reina to save low down to his left. However, it wasn't long before Suarez was back in the groove. As the Norwich defence headed an attack away, Suarez brilliantly brought the ball down 25 yards out, nut-megged Barnett, then saw his sliding shot deflect off Russell Martin onto Ruddy's right-hand post.
On 57 minutes, Lambert made his first change, replacing Elliot Bennett with club captain Holt, as the away side switched to a 4-4-2. Within three minutes the positive move paid dividends as Pilkington's excellent cross was met by Holt, who nipped in front of Johnson, Jamie Carragher and Reina to head in to the empty Kop net.
Boosted by the goal, the away side nearly had the temerity to go ahead. Another Pilkington-Holt link-up saw the much-travelled striker head towards the far corner, only for Reina to make up for his earlier mistake by pulling off a fine one-handed save.
Liverpool responded with Suarez teeing up Downing, though the winger delayed his shot long enough for Norwich to block. Another Suarez shot was the tipped around the post by Ruddy, whilst Hoolahan blasted high and wide from 30 yards out as Norwich scented an unlikely winner.
With 10 minutes to go, Carroll was brought on, but having replaced Downing and Bellamy earlier withdrawn, Liverpool lacked the width to truly utilise Carroll's strengths. The one time a quality ball was delivered into the box, Carroll wasted the chance, heading wide from only six yards out.
As the clock ticked into the 4th minute of stoppage time, Gerrard dinked a ball towards the edge of the Norwich box. Waiting was Suarez, who connected sweetly to send a volley screaming towards the net, only for ex-Everton keeper Ruddy to pull off a fantastic reflex save to turn the ball over.
Having performed so well in defeats at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, Lambert will be delighted with the character his team displayed to force their way back in to a game which they should have been dead and buried. For Liverpool, following last week's home draw with Manchester United, it's another two points from a game which they dominated. Unlike the past couple of seasons, chances are being created, but the fact that teams aren't being killed off will be a concern for Dalglish as the Reds look for a return to the top four.
Liverpool News 24/7
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