Morton played all 90 minutes of the match, the only midfielder to do so, and further impressed after his 45-minute debut against Norwich City in the previous round.

His passing and vision were on display once again as he opened up the chance for Takumi Minamino’s opener.

“It’s very emotional,” Morton told Liverpoolfc.com post-match.

“My whole family are here and people who have supported Liverpool for years like my mates, they were here watching me and it gets emotional.

“Clapping the fans at the end, it’s just a boyhood dream and one I’ve dreamed of since I was born really because I’ve been coming to the games since I was three or four. I can’t really express the feeling.”

Morton made his debut for the senior team against Norwich last month alongside underage teammates Conor Bradley and Kaide Gordon and played alongside Harvey Blair tonight.

The Wirral-born midfielder has made 13 appearances for the Liverpool underage sides this season and has impressed in the UEFA Youth League under Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

He had previously been on an exceptionally talented underage club side Greenleas JFC before he joined the academy.

Morton relishes the step-up to the senior level: “Yeah because I’m not used to first-team football and I’ve just come into it.

Hopefully, I can get more chances to prove myself. At the start of the game, it’s not like U23s or U18s football [because] you can’t really hear yourself think.

“The fans are loud and it’s a tough test but that’s what I like, a tough test.”

He noted that he is focused on taking his budding career game-by-game rather than dreaming of a Carabao Cup quarter-final appearance.

“I just take every game in my stride really, whatever game it is, and see how it goes. If I am in his plans or if I’m not I am always going to be happy to be part of the club and that’s what I’m like.”

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Chelsea v Norwich will kick off at 12:30 on Saturday, 23rd October in Stamford Bridge. Referee Andrew Madley will take charge of the tie.

Manager Thomas Tuchel is happy to have his squad in victorious form. The Premier League leaders gave Sweden champions Malmo FF a firm thrashing in the Champions League midweek but could now be without two of their main forwards, Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku.

Even with some missing, they still rank as second in the league away from home and second in goals per match. The team will now need players like Kai Havertz and Mason Mount to fill in.

On the other side of the pitch, Norwich have only managed two draws in their eight matches this season. Still, after this terrible start, a shock win would put Daniel Farke’s team up into 18th place.

Forwards Milot Rashica and Teemu Pukki will be the Canary’s only chance at finding a goal this week even though the club only has two goals in total this season.

This is the perfect match for Chelsea to keep their winning run going and improve their goal difference. The Blues have not lost any of their last 12 games, winning eight and drawing four.

Soon back at it! #CheNor comes next! pic.twitter.com/KtE0NwPjLL

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 22, 2021

Chelsea v Norwich Probable Starting Teams

Chelsea

Formation

3-4-2-1

Probable Starting 11

Mendy (GK), Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Chalobah, Alonso, Kovacic, Saul, James, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz.

Injuries / Suspensions

Pulisic (Ankle), Lukaku (Sprained Ankle), Werner (Hamstring)

Norwich

Formation

3-5-2

Probable Starting 11

Krul (GK), Gibson, Hanley, Kabak, Giannoulis, McLean, Normann, Lees-Melou, Aarons, Pukki, Sargent.

Injuries / Suspensions

Gilmour (Personal reasons), Zimmermann (Ankle), Placheta (Overload), Byram (Hamstring), Cantwell (Achilles tendon injury)

Preparing for Norwich City!

[via @ChelseaFC] pic.twitter.com/vzATW306fF

— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) October 21, 2021

Chelsea v Norwich Match Betting

Chelsea to win: 1/6

Draw: 6/1

Norwich to win: 15/1

Score Prediction

Tuchel can take this game easily, this game seems set in stone before kick-off. Only eight games in and there are already 17 points between the teams. Even with the injury concerns in Stamford Bridge, the Blues’ squad depth should be enough to overcome a weak Norwich team.

Expect Chelsea to win the match 5-0.

Masters of the breakaway #OnThisDay in 2013! pic.twitter.com/CGqKwY2JzX

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 22, 2021

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Premier League and international club football news, click here.

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Takumi Minamino scored four minutes into the game and added another early in the second half before Divock Origi killed the tie with a third for the side while left-back Kostas Tsimikas was instrumental throughout.

However, it was the Redmen’s young guns that caught the eye on their big nights as the trio seamlessly slotted into the system that Liverpool use.

Northern Irish right-back Conor Bradley was adept at making use of the right half-space in between the midfield and the right flank.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is known for making use of this area of the pitch when providing support in attack.

Bradley’s time in the Liverpool academy and with the Northern Irish senior side showcases his ability to join the midfield and help sustain pressure on the opposition.

However, the Tyrone native gave away a penalty towards the end of the first half but Kelleher, who hails from the same island, made sure the debutant’s mistake was not costly.

Summer signing Ibrahima Konate also helped the 18-year-old in his first game for the senior team, often occupying the right flank to cut out counter-attacks.

Kaide Gordon, born in 2004, made his anticipated debut at Carrow Road on the right wing and linked up well with Bradley.

Gordon worked hard and did well on the back to force his way into spaces and create goalscoring opportunities.

He was the only member of the front three that did not get himself a goal but it was not for lack of trying on the night the former Derby County player became Liverpool’s fifth youngest-ever player at 16 years and 351 days.

Liverpool leaked counter-attacks in the first-half as the midfield that looked like it lacked a defensive presence on paper lacked a defensive presence.

Neither of the three starting midfielders were objectively bad and all added something to the Liverpool attack but a natural six was needed.

Step up Tyler Morton for his first 45 minutes under Jurgen Klopp – Naby Keita went the other way after picking up what appeared to be a minor muscle injury.

Morton was given lots of time and space on the ball by the hosts and did well with it as he became the assured presence that calmed the eight-time league cup winners’ midfield.

The U23 star made 31 passes while only taking 39 touches and also helped in defence, filling in for those who had left a space in the back four.

On a night that could have been so unspectacular for Liverpool, one cannot help but feel impressed by the seamless integration the youngsters had into the senior side’s style of play.

The post Liverpool Debutants Impress In Comfortable Win Over Norwich appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The match is Liverpool’s first domestic cup game of the season and a rotated side is expected to play against the Canaries.

Norwich, on the other hand, thrashed Bournemouth 6-0 in the second round to earn a date with the Reds – their only win of the season so far.

Cork man Caoimhin Kelleher and Curtis Jones will start for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the clash as the Liverpool coaching ticket has expressed the importance of the competition for young players.

“It’s gold for young players, proper gold because we like this competition to introduce new players – and that’s why I have to say that Curtis, he’s going to start tomorrow and it’s his 50th game for Liverpool. That all started with this cup,” assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders said on Monday at the pre-match press conference.

Thiago Alcantara will miss both of this week’s games for Liverpool through injury after hobbling off the pitch in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace with a calf injury.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Neco Williams are also all unavailable for the tie.

Norwich winger Todd Cantwell will be unavailable due to personal reasons while Christopher Zimmerman and Przemyslaw Placheta remain sidelined.

Head coach Daniel Farke is also expected to rotate his side for the cup clash, as he said in his pre-match press conference: “Once you have to play against the best teams in the world, and we do this on league level and now we do this against Liverpool in the cup, we have to do this with full intensity.

“For that, I trust my whole squad. We have three games in seven days and it is important to bring some recovered players on the pitch, but not to rest other players.

“It is more to have players who can go with this intensity against the ball in order to be competitive.”

Lineups

Norwich City (3-5-2): Gunn; Omobamidele, Hanley (C), Gibson; Mumba, Gilmour, Rupp, Lees-Melou, Giannoulis; Idah, Tzolis.

Subs: Krul, Dowell, Kabak, Rashica, Sorensen, Williams, Pukki.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas; Keita, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Gordon, Minamino, Origi.

Subs: Adrian, Henderson, Jota, Robertson, Phillips, Morton, Balagizi.

Odds

Norwich City 9/2

Draw 14/5

Liverpool 4/7

Where To Watch

Norwich – Liverpool will kick-off at 7:45 pm. The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football with coverage from 7 pm.

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The game will kick off at 15:00, 11th September in the Emirates Stadium with Michael Oliver as referee.

The Gunners’ are currently at their lowest moment in their recent history after losing their opening three matches and sitting on the bottom of the Premier League table.

Now with new signings Tomiyasu and Ramsdale, they have a chance at starting a new as they face fellow bottom place team, Norwich. They also could have players like Partey and Gabriel returning from injury to boost their starting squad.

The only other team without points yet is Wolverhampton Wanderers. Norwich had a tough return to top-flight football after facing three of the best five teams in their opening matches.

A narrow loss against Leicester last week might now give them hope to push on and improve. Stars Pukki and Cantwell are yet to inspire Carrow Road with the Finnish striker scoring the club’s only goal from the penalty spot.

In the last 11 matches where the two teams played each other, Arsenal won seven times and Norwich managed a single victory. The last time they played was mid-2020 as the Gunners ran out 4-0 winners at home.

Arsenal's season starts now. pic.twitter.com/A2CGZ4wdfR

— AfcVIP⁴⁹ #KroenkeOut (@VipArsenal) September 8, 2021

Predicted Starting 11s

Arsenal

Formation

4-2-3-1

Predicted Team

Leno (GK), Tierney, White, Tomiyasu, Soares, Lokonga, Partey, Pépé, Odegaard, Saka, Aubameyang

Injuries

Xhaka (Suspended), Elneny (Muscle injury), Kolasinac (Knock), Partey (Sprain)

Norwich

Formation

4-3-3

Predicted Team

Krul (GK), Williams, Hanley, Gibson, Aarons, Lees-Melou, Gilmour, McLean, Cantwell, Pukki, Rashica

Injuries

Mumba (Knee), Tzolis (Calf), Placheta (Covid-19), Byram (Hamstring)

Hi Tomi!

"I promise you I will give everything to contribute to the team. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the stadium."

It's time for a message from our latest signing… pic.twitter.com/p22bQhs0q5

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 31, 2021

Betting

Arsenal 1/2

Draw 10/3

Norwich 5/1

Predicted Score

It is finally time that Arsenal finds at least one point but that will not come very easy at all. Expect this to become a tense, nervous affair with players scared to make mistakes.

Arsenal will eventually come out on top, winning 2-1.

Next up Norwich

Memories of Jack Wilshere's goal pic.twitter.com/9YCAjxxW5f

— The AFC Page (@theafcpage) September 7, 2021

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The third round draw was made on Wednesday evening with 32 teams involved in it, 60 less than the competition had in the beginning.

The third-round ties will take place in the week commencing September 20, which is after the first international break of the year.

Liverpool will travel to Carrow Road for the second time in a handful of games to face Norwich City.

Norwich thrashed Bournemouth 6-0 at home in the second round and will be hoping to pull off an upset to reach the fourth round.

Debutant Christos Tzolis scored a brace and assisted two further goals in the rout while American Josh Sargeant scored twice and assisted one on the night.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke made 10 changes after his side’s heavy defeat to Manchester City.

However, Farke was quick to put a stop to any overreactions after the victory.

He said: “It is important that you deliver a good performance, but we also have to be a bit careful.

“This was a game on Championship level, top Championship level, and it proves that if we played there then we would probably romp the league again.

“But the Premier League is a different animal and I have to make sure I don’t throw some lads too early into the cold water.”

The sides recently met on the opening weekend of the 2021/22 Premier League with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds running out 3-0 victors.

Mohamed Salah and Bobby Firmino got on the scoresheet that day and some Alisson heroics kept the sheet clean but the three stars are not expected to line out for Liverpool in the tie.

Klopp tends to rotate his side for cup fixtures and it is believed that he will do the same for this years instalment of the EFL Cup.

The post Liverpool To Face Norwich In R3 Of Carabao Cup appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Woodburn has only made 11 appearances for Liverpool’s senior side since 2016 and has spent time on loan in the lower tiers of English football.

The 21-year-old was an unused substitute in the Premier League giants’ victory over Norwich City on the opening weekend.

The Liverpool academy product has not played for the side since the 2017/18 season when he played for the final minutes of the season against Brighton.

He became the side’s youngest-ever goalscorer (17 years 45 days) against Leeds United in the EFL Cup in his second appearance for the club but has not been able to break into Klopp’s side.

Woodburn has several suitors for a loan move in places like Croatia and Denmark but the Scottish side are the ones leading the race for the player.

Woodburn has a year left on his contract with Liverpool and wants to play regular football this season.

The winger has previously spent time on loan at Sheffield United, Oxford United and Blackpool in the second and third-tiers of English football.

The prospect failed to make an impression with the Blades and a fractured foot brought a premature end to a promising loan spell with Oxford.

He spent four months on loan at former Liverpool U23 boss Neil Critchley’s Blackpool and got minutes under his belt but failed to make an impact during his time there as he contracted Covid-19.

The Welsh international was part of Liverpool’s pre-season squad and performed well when called upon but will find it hard to break into a team where the midfield depth is large and the forwards have world-class ability if he stays.

A move to Hearts grants him the opportunity that he desires.

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Despite current struggles surrounding the Ireland national team leaving fans demoralised and pessimistic, there is hope for the future.

A number of young, talented footballers have been eased into the senior squad over the past year or so. Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Jason Knight and more recently, Gavin Bazunu, are just some examples of those who’ve donned the green jersey lately, despite their young age.

Those players aren’t the only Irish footballers demonstrating high levels of potential, though. There are several bubbling just under the senior side whose aspirations of international recognition may be a case of sooner rather than later.

One of those is Norwich City centre-back Andrew Omobamidele.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal rise over the past week. He started his first game in a Canaries’ shirt last Friday against Preston North End and impressed to such an extent that he was awarded man of the match. Key to his contribution was a brave double-block in the opening minutes of the match to keep the score level.

Preston equalized in the last kick of the game but Norwich supporters are raving about the performance of 18 year-old centre back Andrew Omobamidele this afternoon after his first start for the Canaries

That block #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/oyOkiDAVZI

— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) APRIL 2, 2021

Clearly dazzled by his performance, Norwich manager Daniel Farke kept Omobamidele in the starting XI for their game against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday. Norwich went onto dominate the game and win by a massive margin, 7-0 to be exact. Because of this, Omobamidele wasn’t tested to the extent he was in the previous game. That said though, he did everything that was asked of him to a very high standard and displayed his quality on the ball, looking like a seasoned pro throughout.

Shout out to @NorwichCityFC centreback Andrew Omobamidele (18)!

Huddersfield
90 min
Clean sheet
5/5 duels won
3 clearances
7 ball recoveries
84/86 passes completed
92 touches
7-0 win

Only his 2nd start ever for the Canaries. First clean sheet! pic.twitter.com/VPtDNBF8s9

— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) APRIL 6, 2021

His performances have (naturally) got Norwich City and Ireland supporters very excited about his potential.

There’s every chance the Leixlip native could become a Premier League regular next season. Although it’s yet to be officially confirmed, it would take a complete disaster for Norwich to not achieve promotion this season. The Canaries are top of the Championship table, 8 points ahead of their nearest rivals in Watford and 17 points ahead of the play-off places with just a handful of games remaining.

Of course, it’s not a given that Omobamidele would retain his place in the Premier League – or even for the remainder of this season. But, it also wouldn’t be a surprise.

He can take inspiration from fellow centre-back and countryman Dara O’Shea. The 22-year-old only came into the West Bromwich Albion starting XI half-way through last season and helped his side achieve promotion to the Premier League. Since the start of the season, O’Shea has established himself as a key member of both the West Brom and Ireland senior squads.

Norwich’s next fixture comes against Wayne Rooney’s Derby County tomorrow where he could come face-to-face with Jason Knight and Louise Watson – the latter was included in the Ireland u21 side with Omobamidele over the international break.

Saturday’s game at Derby is exclusively available to watch on iFollow with a £10 match pass!

Should other results go our way, a win will see us promoted to the Premier League!

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) APRIL 8, 2021

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Irish 18-year-old Andrew Omobamidele was handed his full Norwich City first-team debut this afternoon in 1-1 draw against Preston North End. His performance, by all accounts, was highly impressive as he went on to win man of the match.

His most vital contribution of the match was a heroic double-block in the opening minutes which kept the scoreline at 0-0. Emi Buendia scored the opener for Norwich just minutes later.

Before the Emi Buendia worldie what a block from Andrew Omobamidele #ncfc pic.twitter.com/nLt0G1dJYe

— Canary Cast (@CastCanary) APRIL 2, 2021

Unfortunately, he was unable to keep a clean sheet on his debut. Brad Potts equalised for Preston with what was virtually the last kick of the game in the 95^th minute.

Omobamidele’s performance has been lauded by a number of Norwich City supporters and sections of the media.

The young centre-back also put in an imposing performances for Ireland’s u21s in a 2-1 win against Wales last week partnered with Arsenal – on loan at Ipswich Town – 20-year-old Mark McGuinness.

He was given his Norwich debut on 16 January 2021, coming on as a sub against Cardiff City. However, tonight marked his first start for the club.

Omobamidele only signed for Norwich City in 2019. Previously, he spent several years in the Leixlip United set up, so much credit must be given to them for his development as a footballer.

Making his debut at the age of 18 and fully deserving of today’s Man of the Match award. pic.twitter.com/VdIh8Acp6y

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) APRIL 2, 2021

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