Paddy's Pointers: Five observations from the Canaries' 3-1 Premier League defeat at Liverpool

1. Gutsy

What heart. What character. What spirit. But Milot Rashica’s deflected opener, to put Norwich City in front early in the second half, merely poked the beast. Liverpool ferociously responded attacking the Kop.

Sadio Mane and Mo Salah underlined their world class pedigree with two goals in three minutes. Luis Diaz, purchased for a fee reportedly north of £37m in January, delivered the killer blow.

But Jurgen Klopp, his star-studded squad and the home hordes knew they had been tested by the Canaries. This was no walkover as it has been too often in modern times against the Reds.

Norwich were brave in possession and committed out of it. There was no parking of the bus. Teemu Pukki had an excellent early chance he rolled wide, and there was plenty of promise before Rashica’s strike that momentarily stunned Anfield, and sent the 2,000 travelling fans into bedlam.

There was a cohesiveness and a self-belief Norwich must retain for the defining tussles ahead. That may be cold comfort when they reflect on the huge effort expended for the lack of any tangible addition to the points column.

But Dean Smith need only refer to this game and his team’s display when the gradient appears insurmountable over the run in. To come to Anfield and produce in this manner underlined again inside the camp the head coach and his squad feel this is possible.

2. Rampant Rashica

The joy on the Kosovan’s features after his first Premier League goal may have been short-lived. He may also boast more pure finishes on his career showreel than a right footed dig that brushed Joel Matip and wrong-footed Alisson.

But what a moment for a player who is visibly growing in the green and yellow shirt.

Smith had prophetically stated on Friday that first league goal was not far away. He made it clear he is delighted with what Rashica had started to show, in terms of his attacking threat and his assists.

It is not just his work on the ball, which has that touch of Premier League quality you would expect for a player who had attracted admiring glances from a number of other top flight clubs after his displays in the Bundesliga. It is his willingness to track back and help out his defenders that should not go unnoticed.

In the midst of Liverpool’s power surge one tackle on Naby Keita, that left him in a heap, saw him hauled to his feet by Kenny McLean, who warmly embraced him.

For Norwich to stand any chance of bucking the odds, they need Rashica to lead from the front. If getting that first Premier League goal releases any pressure he may have been carrying on his shoulders, then there is a lasting dividend from this defeat.

3. Handle with care

Given how stop start Mathias Normann’s Norwich career has been to date, any visible sign the Norwegian appears to be in discomfort must surely trigger a nauseous feeling with Smith or City fans.

Normann was back for his first start November 27 and a pelvic-related issue that required festive surgery. But within the opening quarter he headed across to the away dug out for an exchange of words with Smith’s backroom staff.

Sam Byram immediately sprang to his feet for a warm up, but thankfully Normann was able to continue. Smith actually confirmed afterwards it was a tactical debrief Normann wanted, on who to pick up at Liverpool set pieces.

Upon his return to the action, he set about showing what Norwich had missed during his lengthy spell on the sidelines. His passing, his energy, his ability to read the play lifted City’s threat level across the middle of the park. He did eventually make way eight minutes from the end for Pierre Lees-Melou.

There is no question Smith rates Normann, Kenny McLean and Billy Gilmour as his preferred trio in this shape. They were his starters for the opening two games of his Carrow Road tenure.

Injury has intervened in Normann’s case but there was a confidence and a composure to how Norwich tried to break up the play and release Pukki and Rashica.

It cannot be a coincidence it came with Normann’s return to the line up. Now he simply needs to steer clear of injury for the run in, where his influence should only grow as he finds his rhythm.

4. Warrior Williams

There is surely few better in world football at present than Liverpool’s Salah. His numbers over the past 12 months are, frankly, ridiculous. His influence on Klopp’s side, and that fan base, possibly even greater than the data suggests.

Brandon Williams had the thankless task of trying to subdue the Egyptian. Salah got an early shot away from just inside the area, after his quick feet were too good for the Manchester United loanee. But Williams is a gutsy competitor.

He also relishes the competitive element of his craft. Even a first half booking on the opposite side of the pitch, trying to half a Liverpool counter, did not curtail his appetite to confront Salah.

Salah escaped once with consequences, with Williams upfield after another attacking burst, when he latched onto Alisson’s booming goal kick to roll home a second that was greeted by a roar that felt like the stadium was literally shaking to its foundations. A fitting reception for his 150th in Liverpool red.

But Williams refused to buckle. He launched himself again into the fray when Salah continued to torment and terrorise. Plenty of full backs have cowered in the face of that challenge. Not Williams. Albeit he would be the first to admit he was caught on his heels for Luis Diaz's diagonal run and finish to seal this home win.

Nevertheless, he has firmly won his personal battle with Dimi Giannoulis to be Smith’s main man on the left side of the Norwich defence.

However this season pans out from here, in terms of Norwich’s survival, Williams has proven a major hit. Unless you are anything to do with Man United. In which case, he has been well short and needs another season at Carrow Road. Thank you.

5. Blinkers on

The manner of how Liverpool extinguished hope of a famous Anfield win was cruel in itself. But it was compounded by a set of results for their nearest rivals that relegated Norwich to the bottom of the table.

Away wins for Burnley and Watford. A point for Newcastle at West Ham and the upshot is Smith’s squad again look up at the rest.

In the bigger picture not much has changed. Back-to-back games against Manchester City and Liverpool were always going to present an epic challenge to add to their points tally. As Smith has stated, he can do nothing nor cares to worry about what others in this struggle muster.

City must control their own destiny. There are sufficient games left against teams in the bottom half of the standings for Norwich to come again and find a renewed seam of productivity.

A glance at the latest Premier League table, taking into account that horrendous negative goal difference, makes for gloomy viewing. But especially after the manner they fought at Liverpool it would be premature to consign Norwich just yet to another Championship return.