Venue: Carrow Road
Date: 20/04/2014
Kick-Off: 12:00pm
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.
Neil Adams first game in charge of Norwich City’s didn’t quite go to plan when his side’s Premier League survival hopes took a massive blow last weekend. Fulham came out 1-0 victors over the Canaries in the relegation dogfight, with Hugo Rodallega’s first half winner leaving Norwich hovering just 2 points above the drop zone with only 4 games to go.
Norwich have struggled for goals this season but Robert Snodgrass may be the Canaries best attacking hope on Sunday. The 26 year old Scotland midfielder has managed 5 goals so far this season, and according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he has a 43% shot accuracy with 18 of his 42 shots hitting the target, and 888sport.com make Snodgrass 9/2 to score anytime.
Despite the defeat to Fulham Michael Turner was Norwich’s best showing at the back with 15 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks), including 11 clearances. Its still unclear whether captain Sebastien Bassong will return to partner Turner in the Norwich backline to face Liverpool after the Cameroonian was left out of last weeks match.
Although he was substituted on 68 minutes Leroy Fer was Norwich’s biggest threat going forward against Fulham with 6 attacking contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks), including 4 dribbles and 2 shots on target. The Dutchman has only managed 3 goals so far this season but his performance last week will leave Norwich fans hoping for a repeat performance on Sunday.
Liverpool will be looking to strengthen their position at the top of the table as they continue the chase their first league title since 1990. The Reds travel to Carrow Road on Sunday in search of an impressive 11thth consecutive Premier League victory. It’s been an emotional week in Merseyside as they marked the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and this will no doubt help spur on Brendan Rodgers side who, last week, delivered a hammer blow to title rivals Man City. Liverpool came out 3-2 victors over City, a win that will surely play a major factor in deciding where the title will end up in May.
Steven Gerrard’s emotional post match team huddle showed how much this title really means to him and his teammates if they can manage to secure it. Gerrard managed 3 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) on Sunday including one assist, which according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index takes his assist tally for the season up to 11; the fourth highest in the Premier League. Gerrard has scored 13 times this season and is an industry best 9/5 to add to his tally on Sunday with 888sport.com.
Martin Skrtel grabbed his 7th goal of the season against Man City, and his powerful 26th minute header gave the reds an early 2-0 lead. Centre back Skrtel has managed an impressive 13 shots so far this season giving him a shot accuracy of 62%. As well as being the Premier League’s highest scoring defender so far this season the Slovakian has also been Liverpool’s rock at the back, with 504 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) including 20 against Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling has become one of Liverpool’s most influential players this season and his recent surge in form has helped catapult the reds into the title race. Sterling’s impressive performance last weekend confirmed his importance to the side, and he put Liverpool ahead after just 6 minutes when he calmly dispatched Luis Suarez’s pin-point through ball into the back of Joe Hart’s net. The 19 year old managed 8 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) including 6 dribbles, 1 cross and 1 shot on target.
