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Once again, Liverpool will meet the winners of the previous Championship campaign on the opening day of the Premier League season, with Norwich City welcoming Jurgen Klopp's men to Carrow Road on Saturday evening.

The Canaries amassed 97 points en route to the second-tier title last term, while Liverpool managed to end a topsy-turvy Premier League campaign in third position.

Date, time and venue

Norwich vs Liverpool is scheduled for a 5.30pm BST kick-off on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Carrow Road.

Match preview

Photo: Mr. Fixit's Tips

As with every title-winning side, there were several blips along the way, but Norwich were simply a class above for the entirety of the 2020-21 Championship season, finishing six points clear of second-placed Watford and sealing an immediate return to the big time.

Rewarded with a new four-year contract for his efforts, Daniel Farke prepares to navigate another Premier League campaign in charge of the Canaries, whose tally of five wins and 21 points in the 2019-20 season saw them finish rock bottom of the pile, in spite of some individual shining lights.

One of those standout players - Emiliano Buendia - will now be lining up against Farke's side following a move to Aston Villa, but Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki will endeavour to once again prove their top-flight credentials, with Norwich facing another inevitable fight to avoid a swift demotion.

Having beaten King's Lynn Town, Lincoln City, Huddersfield Town and Gillingham in pre-season, Norwich tested themselves against Premier League opposition during their final warm-up match, but they were comfortably dispatched 3-0 by Newcastle United earlier this month.

However, recent coronavirus chaos has disrupted Farke's pre-season plans a considerable amount, with any chances of a first opening-day victory in the Premier League since the inaugural 1992-93 season slim enough as it is.

Long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip spelled the end of Liverpool's title defence very early on last term, and Jurgen Klopp would proceed to downplay his side's chances of even making the top four during their abysmal February and March period.

A dismal streak of six defeats from seven would see Liverpool languish in eighth position with 10 games left to play, but a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers kickstarted an end-of-season revival for the Merseysiders, who went unbeaten in their last 10 and won their last five to pip Chelsea and Leicester City to third place on the final day.

Despite finishing 17 points adrift of runaway champions Manchester City, all has been rather quiet on the transfer front at Anfield, but the signing of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig has bolstered their defensive ranks at a time where their three long-term victims continue to build up their match fitness.

Liverpool's stellar end-of-season run also saw them claim 19 points from the last 21 on offer away from home, and their opening-day endeavours tend to be truly thrilling affairs, as evidenced by their 4-3 success over Leeds United at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Another goalfest in Liverpool's favour could be on the menu at Carrow Road, as the Reds are currently on a seven-game winning streak away to their upcoming opponents and have not lost to them in the top flight since April 1994.

Where to watch Norwich vs Liverpool

Photo: Getty Images

TV channel: The match will be televised on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or Sky Go app.

Norwich vs Liverpool team news

A Covid outbreak in Norwich's squad has Daniel Farke struggling upon the club's return o the big time. Teemu Pukki is hoping to be fit but Todd Cantwell is a big doubt.

Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour should start for his debut, and could be joined off the bench by newest arrivals Josh Sargent and Christos Tzolis.

Liverpool will be able to welcome back Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez but an injury to Andy Robertson means Kostas Tsimikas should deputise.

It’s a little more complicated in midfield and attack. Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott will likely vie for the third midfield slot alongside James Milner and Fabinho, while it’s a shootout between Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino to play along Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.

Norwich City vs Liverpool Head-to-Head

In 66 meetings between Norwich City and Liverpool, the former has won just 14 times. Liverpool have won 37 matches. 15 games have ended as draws. The last time the two sides locked horns was in February 2020 when Liverpool won the game 1-0.

Liverpool is unbeaten in their last 14 matches against Norwich City.

Norwich City form guide (pre-season): W-W-W-W-L

Liverpool form guide (pre-season): D-W-L-D-W

Norwich City vs Liverpool Predicted Lineups

Norwich City Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul, Max Aarons, Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson, Dimitris Giannoulis; Billy Gilmour, Kenny McLean, Mario Vrancic, Milot Rashica, Todd Cantwell, Teemu Pukki

Liverpool predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Konstantinos Tsimikas; Fabinho, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara; Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah

Norwich vs Liverpool prediction

Norwich are back after another impressive promotion campaign in the Championship but it remains a tall order for any team to match Liverpool, let alone beat them.

Getting anything out of the Reds will be a bonus for Norwich, they know their real battles will lie elsewhere. I cannot see past a routine Liverpool win at Carrow Road, 3-1.

Betting tips

Liverpool to claim entertaining win

The shackles can often come off on the opening matchday of a new campaign, with a defeat at this stage of the term appearing less costly ahead of a long season.

Liverpool haven’t lost on the opening day of the Premier League season since a 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion in 2012-13, winning each of the last three and coming out on top in seven of eight during that sequence.

Although the most recent meeting between the teams at Carrow Road in February 2020 ended 1-0 to the Reds, history suggests there will be plenty of goals.

That was a seventh consecutive victory in the fixture for Liverpool, whose previous six trips to Norwich ended 2-1, 2-1, 3-0, 5-2, 3-2 and 5-4, so a Liverpool win and over 3.5 goals looks a good bet.

Tip: Liverpool and over 3.5 goals @ 13/8 with Betfair

Reds fast out of the traps

After the disappointment of last season, when Liverpool only just edged into the top four in the final weeks of the season, Klopp will be eager to see his side put down an early marker.

Should his side fail to register in the first half then, with a raucous Carrow Road crowd, confidence is sure to grow among Daniel Farke’s players.

However, Liverpool offer plenty of value to be leading at half-time and full-time and we expect them to strike early and keep the home side at arm’s length.

Tip: Half-time/full-time – Liverpool-Liverpool @ 5/6 with Betfair

Salah to open account

Mohamed Salah has finished as Liverpool’s top scorer in each of the past four seasons and he is again expected to be their biggest threat in the final third again in 2021-22.

The Egypt striker has earned a reputation for getting up and running early and there’s no reason to believe that won't be the case once again this time around.

Salah scored Liverpool’s opening goal last term, from the penalty spot just four minutes into their 4-3 win over Leeds, and he also grabbed the opener against West Ham in 2018-19.

Tip: Mohamed Salah first goalscorer @ 21/10 with Betfair

Norwich vs Liverpool odds

Norwich are 8/1 to win on Saturday, with Liverpool 1/4 and the draw priced at 5/1.

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