Norwich City vs Liverpool preview - Kane unable for Canaries - 7M sport

Norwich City vs Liverpool preview - Kane unable for Canaries



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Posted Saturday, September 29, 2012 by PA

Harry Kane misses the game against Liverpool and could be out for six weeks after suffering a foot injury in Norwich's midweek Capital One Cup victory against Doncaster.

Centre-back Sebastien Bassong (hamstring) and midfielder Anthony Pilkington (back) have an "outside chance" of making the squad according to manager Chris Hughton, who will revert to his strongest available line-up against the Reds after resting several players in midweek.

Defender Simon Lappin (ankle) is back in training but will not be involved while long-term injury victim, full-back Steven Whittaker (ankle), is set to resume training next week.

Boss Chris Hughton has warned his side not to be fazed by the passing game of Liverpool as both clubs seek their first Premier League win of the season.

Liverpool currently reside in the relegation zone, having taken two points from their five games while Norwich are just one point better off, having scored only two goals so far, the least of any Premier League club.

Hughton, however, believes both clubs are in a false position, insisting that their performances have far exceeded their results.

"We have certainly played well enough in the last four games to have got more than we have got and they (Liverpool) would probably say the same," said Hughton.

"We have to be very respectful to Liverpool. In their last home game against Manchester United until the sending off (of Jonjo Shelvey) they were the better team. They looked a real threat going forward. Manager Brendan Rodgers has a philosophy which is very pleasing on the eye and they can score goals. We will have to play well."

That means preventing Liverpool from settling into the passing patterns which Rodgers had so much success with at Swansea.

Hughton said: "Brendan won't change the way he wants to play the game. In some ways it is in the old Liverpool traditions, pass and move, the rotation of positions. Brendan has done it very well at the clubs he has been at before.

"You have to accept they are going to have good periods of possession but you have to make sure that movement doesn't hurt you.

"We are at home and we need to sustain the quality and endeavours that we have shown in the last few games. If we are able to do that, we'll create chances and it's about converting those chances."

Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger has a good chance of being fit despite being carried off on a stretcher last weekend.

The Denmark international sustained bone bruising in the defeat to Manchester United but could retain his place in the starting line-up, although forward Fabio Borini (ankle) is rated at 50-50.

Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is suspended for the Barclays Premier League match while Martin Kelly's knee operation means Rodgers has a decision to make in defence with left-back Jose Enrique still injured.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits the club's winless start to the season has increased the pressure on the players.

The Reds have taken just two points from their opening five Barclays Premier League matches, which have included home games against champions Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

They now have fixtures against Norwich, Stoke and Reading (both at home) which, ordinarily, they would be expected to take at least seven points from.

However, Gerrard believes their current low points tally means away draws at places like Carrow Road are no longer acceptable.

"We have a run of games coming up now where there are points we should be taking but the longer it (not winning) goes on the more difficult it is going to get so it is important against Norwich we take maximum points," said the 32-year-old.

"If you look at the performances against City and United we should have six [more] points so it is not a case of 'they're out the way now, let's go beat the sides we should beat'.

"I think what we need to do is keep playing like we have done and hopefully we'll get the rub of the green, get referee's decisions in our favour and we will go on and take maximum points.

"Of course it puts more pressure on us. If we had won against United and beaten City everyone would be saying about how good a result it was at Sunderland (a 1-1 draw).

"But because that win hasn't come it seems as if we dropped points at Sunderland, so it is no good getting a point from these tough away games any more, we need to win them."



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