Lallana hits dramatic winner as Liverpool sink Norwich 5-4

Nathaniel Clyne (r): Suffered a knock at Norwich

Nathaniel Clyne (r): Suffered a knock at Norwich

Adam Lallana scored an injury-time winner as Liverpool claimed a dramatic 5-4 win over Norwich in a topsy-turvy clash at Carrow Road.

Liverpool recovered from 3-1 down and Sebastien Bassong’s late equaliser in a game that was littered with some truly awful defending but some clinical finishing as Jurgen Klopp’s men eventually grabbed all three points in a match they looked to have lost and then drawn.

Roberto Firmino gave the Reds the lead before Dieumerci Mbokani’s clever finish, a debut strike from Steven Naismith and Wes Hoolahan’s penalty put the Canaries 3-1 up.

But Liverpool scored three times in a 20-minute spell through Jordan Henderson, Firmino again and James Milner – only for Bassong to notch a Norwich leveller in stoppage-time.

The drama continued, however, as Lallana volleyed home with seconds remaining to send Klopp dancing down the touchline and Alex Neil crestfallen in the home dugout.

The Canaries made a positive start but it was the visitors who threatened first when Firmino won a foot race with Seb Bassong through the middle but poked his effort over the bar.

Roberto Firmino: Scores Liverpool's opener at Norwich
Indeed, it was the visitors who were celebrating first in the 18th minute when a well-worked move down the left finished with Milner playing in Firmino, whose shot from a tight angle was saved by the legs of Declan Rudd but the ball still spun into the far corner.

It was all Liverpool for a brief spell as Milner was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Robbie Brady before Alberto Moreno drilled a free-kick wide from 25 yards.

But it was a set-piece that was again to be Liverpool’s undoing when they failed to clear a corner and, after a goalmouth scramble, the ball fell to the feet of Mbokani with his back to goal and the on-loan striker back-heeled brilliantly past Simon Mignolet from six yards.

Steven Naismith: Celebrates his goal against Liverpool

The buoyant Canaries were then ahead just before the break and it was a special moment on his debut for Naismith as the former Everton man fired across Mignolet and into the far corner after being played in by a clever pass from Wes Hoolahan.

That man Hoolahan was in the action again just after the break when he coolly converted a penalty, after Moreno had brought down Naismith from behind with a silly challenge.

Norwich’s two-goal lead lasted only 96 seconds, however, as Liverpool hit straight back when Nathaniel Clyne’s cross from the right found a completely unmarked Henderson 12 yards and the Reds skipper swept home expertly.

Klopp’s men were level in the 63rd minute, in what was turning into a thrilling contest, when sub Lallana crossed for Firmino who took a touch and lifted the ball brilliantly over the advancing Rudd.

James Milner: Celebrates Liverpool's winner at Norwich

And remarkably the Reds were in front with 15 minutes to go when Russell Martin’s awful blind back pass was latched onto by Milner, who raced clear before rounding Rudd and slotting home.

There was late drama, however, when the Canaries levelled two minutes into stoppage-time when a long free-kick into the Liverpool area feel to Bassong 25 yards out and the Norwich skipper fired home.

But that was not the end of the scoring as Liverpool came up with a winner in the final minute of stoppage-time when Lallana’s volley gave Rudd no chance in what has to go down as one of the Premier League’s more remarkable games in recent years.