Norwich City have consistently won plaudits for their adventurous style of football and the Premier League’s nearly men came close once more to getting an unlikely point against Liverpool at the weekend, but it wasn’t to be. Manager Daniel Farke praised his side against the undefeated league leaders saying: “There was not much between the two sides”. But the real difference between the clubs that find themselves at either end of the Premier League table is their resilience.
Norwich City are yet to pick up a single point in the Premier League this term after going behind, the only team in the division to do so. Meanwhile, as they did again on Saturday, Liverpool have consistently found a way to get past opponents even when all hope appears lost, as with the victory over Aston Villa earlier in the campaign. The Canaries have picked up all of their 18 points by first going in front, which exposes another weakness in the side, their inability to see out a lead to the end of a match. On just four occasions this season have Norwich managed to see out a lead to collect three points.
By the turn of the year, Farke’s side had dropped 12 points from winning positions, and it highlights how fragile they have been at the back. In front of goal, they are over-reliant on top scorer Teemu Pukki’s contribution, with the Finn providing 45 per cent of their top-flight strikes. Coupled with the Canaries inability to defend, having conceded the second-highest number of goals in the division, 48, it is a recipe for relegation.
An overwhelming lack of resilience to not once snatch even a point from a losing position is a costly flaw indeed, and it has caused Norwich to leave a match emptyhanded on 16 occasions this term. Missing out on all of those points will ultimately prove costly in their bid to extend their stay in the top-flight. Farke’s side have also been particularly poor travellers, winning just once on the road in 13 attempts, and ultimately their inability to put in abrasive displays will ensure they make an immediate return to the Championship.
