Norwich City 4 Liverpool 5: First Thoughts

Norwich City 4 Mbokani 29', Naismith 41', Hoolahan 54' (pk), Bassong 92'
Liverpool 5 Firmino 18', Henderson 55', Firmino 63', Milner 75', Lallana 95'

• Pregame Thoughts: Looks like Norwich City are starting two new signings in Portuguese right back Ivo Pinto and former Everton forward Steven Naismith. Handy bit of business for both those players, but nothing compared to the heavy metal feeling we get looking at a team sheet with JON FLANAGAN!! in it. If we had to guess, we'd say Lucas is destined to be the first subbed out in this one, although he will never be subbed out in our hearts.
  
  
• Liverpool breaking with numbers and shape early. Well snuffed out by the Canaries, but that is one of the things that has slowly been getting better under Klopp. Also, Naismith was a couple pounds of pressure away from snapping that ankle for Lucas. 
  
  
• Bummed that no one is rocking those ridiculously fly new adidas kicks from training this week. Even more bummed at the start Norwich have gotten out of this game. Careful, you Reds.
  
  
• Hendo picks his head up early to attempt a threaded ball in for Firmino. More of that please.
  
  
• GOAL Firmino 18' It's happening! Firmino with his most striker-y finish in Red yet, as he's put through into the left channel of the box and shows no hesitation with a left footer angled toward the far post, that works its way past Rudd's left booted touch to bounce off the inside of the post and in. 
  
  
• If this football thing doesn't work out Mbokani's a shoe-in for the next installment in the Predator franchise.
  
  
• GOAL Mbokani 29' No concerns about this football thing not working out, then. Wonderful backheel from the 6 yard box bamboozles Sakho, gives Mignolet no chance at the save, and a shirtless fat man in the crowd plenty of reason to dance. And, yes, in case you were wondering, the chance did come off of Liverpool's failure to decisively deal with a corner. 
  
  
• Now the scores are level, Norwich resume their impressively energetic play. Liverpool treading a dangerous line between arrogance and laziness in a way that reads most like false confidence. A goal against the run of play here would be nice.
  
  
• GOAL Naismith 41' The former Everton man with an obvious run from about 30 yards away goes completely unmarked, and takes the ball first time from the right channel of the box to inside Mignolet's far post. Classy finish, but about 17 different Liverpool defenders caught dozing on the run in. Dreadful. 
  
  
• Halftime: Zero bifters given in a first half that was most certainly not boss, tha. Blame whatever tactical or selection decision you want, this one is completely down to Liverpool's team not showing up to play a professional football match. Our halftime team talk involves a hunger strike, because there is no way anything is going to taste good right now.
  
  
• GOAL Hoolahan 54' (pen) You have to be kidding. Moreno loses his mind with a wild two footed slide in the box trying to wrap around Naismith, who goes down. Then the Spaniard pops up to give the Scotsman a couple kicks while he's down. Hoolahan puts the ensuing spot kick into the net. Ridiculous.
  
  
• GOAL Henderson 55' Did someone say ridiculous? Its getting real in this battlefield as Henderson immediately responds to that penalty with a coolly tucked away first time finish, low to Rudd's right. Game on!
  
  
• Lallana on for the anonymous Ibe, and things shift from a 4-3-3 to a 4-51, it looks like. Hendo into the attacking band, which probably sets this game up for a Benteke introduction to play as a target for Henderson and Milner.
  
  
• GOAL Firmino 63' Roberto Firmino: Liverpool Striker, The Legend Continues. By some distance, Liverpool's most Dortmund-y goal under Klopp. Firmino starts the break at midfield with a nice touch off into the right channel, and turns to run straight at the center of the box. Good thing, too, with quick passing springing Lallana onto the left wing to pick his head up and Firmino's run out. The elegant Brazilian calmly, clinically controls it and pokes it beyond the onrushing Rudd. Game on for reals this time.
  
  
• The all English trident behind Firmino is operating with familiarity, and Bobby wants to firm up his hat trick -- C'MON YOU REDS!!!
  
  
• Olsson and Jarvis in for Norwich. As if.
  
  
• GOAL Milner 75' Comeback complete! Fafftacular play by Norwich puts Rudd in a one v one with James Milner, who takes a mundane extra touch and makes the perfunctory pass into the net. 4-3 to the good guys, and what a turnaround this has been. 
  
  
• Benteke and Jerome introduced into the game, presumably to "put themselves about" and "give defenders something to think about" in the air. 
  
  
• Steven Caulker brought on to play striker. Wait what? He goes to central defense!
  
  
• GOAL Bassong 92' Yougottabefugginkiddingme.
  
  
• Really?
  
  
• The captain sparks the comeback, the best player bags a brace, and the highly paid veteran ices the game. This is the way this stuff is supposed to work. All the way up until we give away two points. Everything is the worst.
  
  
• GOAL Lallana 95' UNTIL ITS NOT SOMEBODY KISS US

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.