Premier League preview: Norwich City v Liverpool

Liverpool will want to convert their form from their Cup competition to the Premier League when they travel to Norwich City on Saturday.

The Reds are winless in the English top-flight through five games for the first time in 101 years, to occupy a spot in the relegation zone in the infancy of the 2012/13 Premier League campaign.

While it is not complete panic stations for Brendan Rodgers and his side, they will want to get a move on if they wish to earn a spot in Europe for next season.

It is the Europa League in which they are performing well so far this season, winning four of their five ties and drawing the other – most recently scoring five goals away to Swiss side Young Boys.

The Reds also fired up to start their League Cup defence with a bang, as Nuri Sahin’s brace saw them come from behind away to West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday in a 2-1 win.

It is their profligacy in league clashes which is costing them, as they have scored just four times in five matches.

Conversely, Norwich have conceded only three times in their past four, since shipping five goals away to Fulham in what was a horrific opening 90 minutes to Chris Hughton’s reign at Carrow Road.

He has since tightened his side right up, as they earned draws against Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham and West Ham, before a narrow 1-0 loss away to Newcastle.

Another disciplined performance from Norwich will be necessary for Liverpool’s visit, however, as the Reds were certainly worthy of at least a point in their admirable 2-1 loss to Manchester United last time out in the league.

In injury news, Liverpool will be without Daniel Agger (knee), Fabio Borini (foot), Joe Cole (hamstring), Martin Kelly (knee) and Lucas (thigh) for the clash, while Jonjo Shelvey begins his three-match ban after being sent off in the loss to United.

For Norwich, defender Sebastien Bassong was substituted in their loss to Newcastle with hamstring tightness, and remains in doubt for this weekend’s game.

Hughton also brought back midfielder Elliott Bennett from a knee injury in their League Cup triumph over Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday, putting him in contention to appear against the Reds.

Midfielder Simon Lappin and full-back Steven Whittaker (both ankles) remained on the sidelines.