03.01.2005 - Injury hit Reds end festive period with win

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Liverpool wrapped up their busy Christmas and New Year schedule with a third win in four games, thanks to second half goals by Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise at Norwich.

With Xabi Alonso added to the ever increasing injury list over the weekend, and Milan Baros not yet ready to return after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, Rafa Benitez was without seven senior players for Liverpool's first trip to Carrow Road for almost a decade.

Salif Diao, Steve Warnock, Antonio Nunez and Neil Mellor were added to the side, while there was a place on the bench for David Raven.

Following a week which had seen both clubs play three times it wasn't surprising that the game didn't really get going in the first half, with neither 'keeper tested and Liverpool's best chances falling Steven Gerrard's way.

On this occasion, the Reds' skipper failed to hit the target with any of his long range attempts, and the first half ended goalless.

Liverpool's finishing was more accurate in the second half though, and it took 12 minutes of the half to take the lead.

John Arne Riise's 40 yard diagonal ball dropped just just inside the Norwich penalty area, and Luis Garcia was on hand to lob the ball over Robert Green and net his fifth Premiership goal of the season.

Rafa Benitez's men looked to have wrapped things up on 63 minutes when Riise grabbed a goal himself, also his fifth strike of the year, finishing from close range after Green had only managed to parry Sinama-Pongolle's initial shot.

Norwich's young forward Ryan Jarvis grabbed a goal back for the home side on 87 minutes, but it was to prove little more than a consolation.

Liverpool's next two games see them come up against Burnley and Watford in cup competition, before a home Premiership clash against Man United in twelve days time.