Liverpool Winger Gives Incredible Post-match Interview: “It was a Sucker Punch!”
Liverpool emerged as 5-4 frontrunners at Carrow Road thanks to the spectacular stoppage-time volley from substitute Lallana. The Reds had been 3-1 down but roared back before conceding an injury-time equalizer as Sebastien Bassong fired in from 20 yards.
But Lallana closed-in onto a pin balling cross in the Norwich penalty box to give the Anfield outfit a dramatic win that resulted into a memorable celebration at Carrow Road.
The England international, whose last league goal was against Crystal Palace back in May 201, ended his eight-month Premier League goal drought with the dramatic injury time goal against Norwich.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” he said. “It was just one of those great moments,” Lallana told the ECHO.
“I didn’t connect with the ball brilliantly but as soon as it bounced I knew it was in and I was off. My momentum just took me in the direction of the manager. I looked up and he was halfway on the pitch! I heard his glasses got broken but that probably serves him right for being on the pitch!”
“Not scoring has been playing on my mind a little bit. That’s the kind of character I am as I always want to help the team. It was worth the wait with those celebrations and being able to get us the three points. It’s one of those moments I’ll never forget.”
The £25 million midfielder had a been a major doubt for the trip to Norwich after suffering a knock in their last game against Manchester United, but the medical staff took a big risk by letting him go out there.
“I could easily have been back at Melwood today getting treatment and saving myself for the game against Stoke on Tuesday,” Lallana said.
“I only trained with the squad on Friday and before that I’d spent the week getting treatment. Credit to the medical team who are first class. They pushed me to travel, turned me around and got me available.”
“Thankfully, I was able to come off the bench and I was involved in a couple of the goals. The medical team could have just said rest it now and be ready for Tuesday, but it shows that it’s definitely worth taking risks at times. Today it paid off.”
Showing how joyful he was for helping his side clinch the last minute win at Norwich, Lallana said: “It was a sucker punch when Bassong scored that brilliant goal to make it 4-4.”
“I asked the ref how long was left and he said we had played four minutes of stoppage time so there was one minute left. We went straight down the other end and it dropped nicely for me.”
“It was a great finale. It was an epic game and they’re great to be involved in, especially when you come out of it with three points. We’ve got a real never-say-die spirit in our squad. That’s something the manager has instilled in us.”
After Lallana scored, he reacted by whipping off his shirt and ran into Klopp’s welcoming hands as the entire squad joined him and the manager.
“They were brilliant for us again. The manager said a few weeks after he arrived about ensuring that fans didn’t leave games early. They’ll be glad they stayed to the end today because that was a cracker. Now we need to recover well and get ready for a massive game on Tuesday.”