Liverpool v Norwich predictions: Reds should advance to quarter-finals

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Norwich in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.

Where to watch

ITV, 8.15pm Wednesday

Best bet

Liverpool to win & both teams to score
1pt 13-8 Betfair

Team news

Liverpool
Thiago is out and Roberto Firmino hasn't trained. Jurgen Klopp is expected to make a number of changes.

Norwich
Max Aarons and Brandon Williams have not trained since the weekend. Ozan Kabak is out and Grant Hanley suspended which means Jacob Sorensen could be drafted into defence.

Match preview

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed talk of a possible quadruple as "crazy stuff", although what would really be crazy is if Liverpool aren't in the hat for the FA Cup quarter-finals after they've played Norwich at Anfield.

Klopp has promised to make plenty of changes following his team's gruelling League Cup final success over Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, and you'd think that might play into Norwich's hands.

But Norwich boss Dean Smith has issues of his own; key defender Grant Hanley is suspended, others injured and there is the small matter of a must-win Premier League showdown at home to Brentford to come on Saturday.

Smith, understandably therefore, has said he will also ring the changes, and the bottom line is that a second-string Liverpool should be better than a second-string Norwich - but not so much better that you'd put money on a home landslide.

The Canaries gave a decent account of themselves at Anfield two weeks ago, holding firm until half-time and duly taking a shock lead through Milot Rashica before the Reds hit top gear and turned things around to win 3-1.

Since then, the Canaries have visited Southampton and were awful in a 2-0 defeat and they remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League, five points from safety and knowing that their focus has to be on the weekend clash with Brentford.

Norwich have had two wins to nil in rounds three and four but the fun surely stops here against a Liverpool side, yes, unrecognisable from league games, but with the bit between their teeth after bagging leg one of the quad on Sunday.

They've got this far by hammering Shrewsbury 4-1 and beating Cardiff 3-1 with shuffled packs and they can see off Norwich, although don't expect it to be a cakewalk. Backing another Reds victory and both teams to score looks the reasonable way in given the 90-minute price about the hosts is stifling.

Liverpool's first-choice defence, despite the abundant space left in behind their marauding full-backs, are keeping clean sheets for fun at the moment. But this isn't a Premier League Liverpool; this will be an FA Cup Liverpool, and that Liverpool has kept only two clean sheets in their last 12 ties.

Norwich will look to stay organised and have points to prove after their no-show at St Mary's. And this is an opportunity for the likes of Dimitris Giannoulis, Pierre Lees-Melou, Sam Byram and one or two others to shine and they will relish the opportunity.

Klopp has no interest in discussing the quadruple and it's easy to see why. Liverpool are decent-priced outsiders in the Premier League title race and there is a long way to go in the two knockout competitions in which they still harbour hopes.

But, whether Klopp likes it or not, the debate won't be going away any time soon with a mix-and-match Liverpool good enough to continue on the trophy trail.

Key stat

Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in ten of their last 12 FA Cup ties.

Inside info

Liverpool

Penalty taker Divock Origi/James Milner
Free-kick wizardAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Set-piece aerial threatVirgil van Dijk
Card magnet Ibrahima Konate

Norwich

Penalty taker Teemu Pukki
Free-kick wizardMathias Normann
Set-piece aerial threat Ben Gibson
Card magnet Pierre Lees-Melou

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