Having both lost their last Premier League outings to teams that are battling to reach the same targets as them this season, Norwich City and Liverpool will be desperate to return to winning ways when they meet at Carrow Road on Saturday lunchtime.

A fixture that normally provides goals, it is one that the hosting Canaries have not triumphed in for over 20 years.

Norwich

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If Alex Neil is going to be able to call himself a Premier League manager with Norwich at the start of next season, it will have much to do with the results that his side can pick up at home between now and May.

After all, the Norfolk-based outfit have picked up 15 points in front of their own supporters so far this term, compared to the eight that have been collected on their travels.

Last weekend's trip to fellow strugglers Bournemouth was a particularly galling one, with Norwich being well beaten 3-0 by their hosts, who also jumped above them in the fight for survival.

Not only that, it meant that Neil's men have conceded three goals in each of their last three outings in all competitions. In total, they have shipped 38 Premier League goals this term - only Newcastle United and Sunderland have let in more.

It is obviously a cause of great concern for Neil, who recently swooped to bolster his defence with the signings of Germany international Timm Klose from Wolfsburg and Dinamo Zagreb full-back Ivo Pinto.

Perhaps the club's most impressive piece of business has been done further up the pitch, though. At one stage it appeared that the move was going to fall through, but Norwich managed to secure the services of Everton striker Steven Naismith. The Scot has been signed to bolster the team's return of 24 goals from 22 Premier League matches.

Recent form: WLWWLL
Recent form (all competitions): LWWLLL

Liverpool

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If there was any doubt before his appointment, there is now no uncertainty as to the enormity of the task that lies ahead of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

While there have been brief glimpses of progression under the German's guidance - especially the wins at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium - the hard facts are that the Reds have claimed victory from just five of the 14 Premier League matches that Klopp has taken charge of.

Defensive problems have been well documented and will need addressing in the summer, but Liverpool have also had their failings up the other end of the pitch.

In those aforementioned 14 games, the Merseysiders have found the back of the net just 17 times - not enough for a side that has aspirations of finishing in a Champions League place.

Indeed, the starting XI that took to the pitch for the 1-0 loss to bitter rivals Manchester United last Sunday had scored only a combined six goals between them.

If they are to put that right, traditionally Carrow Road has been the perfect venue for Liverpool. After all, from their last four visits to East Anglia, they have scored 13 goals, seven of which were fired in by Luis Suarez.

Recent form: LWWLDL
Recent form (all competitions): LWDDLW

Team News

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A return to fitness for the injury-hit Daniel Sturridge would certainly ease Liverpool's goalscoring issues, but despite the England frontman being back in training, he is not expected to feature in this game.

Without Sturridge, Klopp will have to decide who is going to spearhead his attack.

Christian Benteke - a £32m summer signing from Aston Villa - may be Liverpool's leading goalscorer in the Premier League with six to his name, but the Belgian does not appear to fit into Klopp's playing style.

Should he miss out as expected, Roberto Firmino will lead the line, with Adam Lallana and possibly Jordon Ibe offering the support.

Philippe Coutinho, Divock Origi and Martin Skrtel remain sidelined, but Dejan Lovren could be in contention following a stint out of action with hamstring trouble.

As for the home side, there is every chance that Neil will hand debuts to Naismith, Pinto and Klose.

In terms of injuries, barring any late developments, the Norwich boss should have a fully fit squad to select from.

Norwich possible starting lineup:
Rudd; Pinto, Klose, Bassong, Brady; Odjidja, Howson, Tettey, Jarvis; Hoolahan; Naismith

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Milner; Ibe, Lallana, Firmino

Head To Head

You have to go all the way back to April 1994 to find Norwich's last victory over Liverpool, when a 35th-minute goal from Jeremy Goss was enough to clinch a 1-0 win.

As for their last home triumph in this fixture, that came 11 months earlier when a penalty from David Phillips separated the two sides.

Since that loss in 1994, Liverpool have recorded nine victories while there have been two draws - one of which was played out at Anfield earlier this season.

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We say: Norwich 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool tend to enjoy facing Norwich, but they do not exactly carry good form heading into this game. As for the hosts, they should be boosted by the new signings, so it would not be a surprise were they able to match their visitors this time around.

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