Daily Star Sunday

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CHARLTON and Blackburn’s winless runs continued as the two strugglers battled out a 1-1 draw at The Valley.

Harry Lennon put Jose Riga’s side in front but Jordan Rhodes equalised for Rovers just before half-time.

The home side had the edge in the opening stages, with a Tony Watt cross landing just too far in front of Igor Vetokele.

Watt then teed up Johann Gudmundsso­n, whose effort from 20 yards flew over.

Charlton led after 30 minutes when a Gudmundsso­n free-kick caused chaos in the box and Lennon’s effort was deflected past keeper Jason Steele.

Blackburn levelled when Rhodes headed a superb Adam Henley cross past Stephen Henderson.

Rovers boss Paul Lambert said: “We started the game so well. Charlton scored with their first attack of note.

“In the second half we had more of the ball and should have had a penalty.”

Addicks boss Riga said: “Conceding before half-time was difficult but my players worked hard to get that result.

“I’m happy.” BRENTFORD ended a run of four straight defeats with a deserved win over Preston.

Goals from John Swift and Alan Judge’s fine strike just before half-time settled a pulsating clash.

Greg Cunningham’s 22nd-minute own-goal had put the Bees ahead but Adam Reach’s cool finish levelled the scores two minutes later.

And Judge put the visitors in front two minutes before the break, the striker cutting inside to fire past Sam Johnstone.

Preston piled on the pressure in the second half but Brentford keeper David Button kept them at bay before Swift clinched the points with his 80th-minute strike.

Bees boss Dean Smith said: “There was a period that they got on top but I thought we deserved to go in front.

“Overall I’m really pleased with the performanc­e.”

Preston manager Simon Grayson said: “Ultimately in the first half they were better with the ball and if you allow a team like Brentford room, they are going to punish you.”

But somehow, what could have turned into another bad day at the office yesterday – at a ground where Liverpool almost never lose – ended in a dream finish for the German after a nine-goal thriller.

You do wonder, though, how long a man who took Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and a Champions League Final will stand for this sort of sub-standard display from his side.

Klopp says the Reds can’t afford to spend silly money – but his predecesso­rs have already done that and it shows.

The Canaries still haven’t beaten Liverpool since Jeremy Goss scored the winner at Anfield in front of the old Kop nearly 20 years ago. And you would have to go even further back than that to find the last time they beat the Reds in front of their own fans.

Adam Lallana’s last-gasp winner stretched that record even further.

And you would have thought that Liverpool had won the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League all on the same day, judging by their wild celebratio­ns on a crazy, crazy afternoon.

Klopp was engulfed by his delirious players, Christian Benteke knocking off and smashing his glasses which left the manager joking: “I have a second pair but it’s difficult looking for glasses when you don’t have glasses.”

But the German, with a face like thunder on the touchline, hadn’t been laughing when it looked as if the Canaries had snatched a stoppage-time point as Sebastien Bassong’s shot from outside the area snaked into the corner for their fourth goal from only five shots on target.

And Norwich boss Alex Neil said: “I’m extremely angry – I don’t know what to say. Defensivel­y we made really poor decisions and cost ourselves three points. We failed to make correct decisions at vital times and that cost us goals.

“It’s so frustratin­g, you put that much effort and work into getting them ready and then they perform that way in the last 25 minutes.”

On an extraordin­ary afternoon Liverpool opened the scoring as Roberto Firmino brilliantl­y finished off a defence-shredding move to fire the Reds’ 18th-minute opener.

That lead lasted just 11 minutes as dreadful Reds defending from a corner saw the ball drop to Dieumerci Mbokani, who reacted brilliantl­y to backheel the ball past keeper Simon Mignolet.

And the Canaries were in front just before half-time as Steven Naismith – who had been lucky to escape without a booking for a fifth-minute stamp on Lucas – marked his debut after signing from Everton by firing a brilliant finish across Mignolet into the far corner.

It got worse for Klopp’s side nine minutes into the second half as a reckless challenge from Alberto Moreno on Naismith gifted Norwich a penalty that Wes Hoolahan put away – just.

That two-goal lead lasted barely a minute, though, as Jordan Henderson exploited a gaping hole in the Norwich defence to fire home after Firmino brilliantl­y flicked on Nathaniel Clyne’s cross.

And it was Firmino who levelled it up in the 63rd minute, Lallana’s pass setting the Brazilian running clear t Rudd.

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 ??  ?? GONE: Klopp leaves pitch without
his glasses BACK IN IT: Mbokani backheels equaliser JURGEN KLOPP must be having sleepless nights just now – and that’s when Liverpool win. STUNNER: Naismith
strikes SPOT ON: Hoolahan
penalty LEVELLER:...
GONE: Klopp leaves pitch without his glasses BACK IN IT: Mbokani backheels equaliser JURGEN KLOPP must be having sleepless nights just now – and that’s when Liverpool win. STUNNER: Naismith strikes SPOT ON: Hoolahan penalty LEVELLER:...

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