Norwich City

Image source, Getty Images

David Wagner and Jurgen Klopp are close friends and will go head to head in an FA Cup fourth round tie between Norwich City and Liverpool on Sunday (14.30 GMT).

The two Germans played together for Mainz, Wagner was best man for Klopp's wedding in 2005 and the pair worked as coaches for Borussia Dortmund from 2011 to 2015.

Canaries head coach Wagner has spoken about how the two met in the official Liverpool programme:

“It was back in 1991 and I’d just switched (as a player) from Eintracht Frankfurt to Mainz when I went into the dressing room for the first training session, and Jurgen was already there. He’d joined Mainz the previous year."

He continued, “We started talking and quickly became friends because he was, and still is of course, a good guy. I realised this very early on after meeting him.

“We played together at Mainz in the German second division and usually had to battle against relegation. It was often a struggle to stay in the league but more often than not we’d win the last and most important game.

“When I retired (from playing) I probably only had two, what I would call ‘real’ friendships from my 12 or 13-year playing career and Jurgen is one of those guys. One of the big reasons we got on so well was a similar sense of humour - we laugh about the same jokes," Wagner said.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of the game, Klopp said he and Wagner have spoken a lot about Sunday's game. It's the fourth time the two have met as opposing managers.

"We have conversations about it, he's asked for massive rotation! He's doing a really good job (at Norwich) but he has a really difficult job. They started the season well but lost most of their offensive unit (due to injury).

"Now they are in touching distance of the play-off spots. I am interested in everything he is doing, it's cool to have this game."

If there's a winner on the day at Anfield, it's likely to be the last time the two meet with Klopp as Liverpool manager. On Friday he announced he is leaving his role at the end of this season.

You can listen to full live commentary of the cup tie with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB, Freview and BBC Sounds.

David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie against Liverpool at Anfield (14.30 GMT).

On Friday, Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp announced that he was leaving his role at the end of this season.

Here are some of the key points:

• Jonathan Rowe has broken a bone in his hand. He will miss the Liverpool game on Sunday and possible the Coventry match on 3 February but may be back after that. He doesn't need surgery

• On Rowe: "He is super-cool and very mature, this means he can handle injury situations"

• Josh Sargent will not be involved against Liverpool, Grant Hanley is back in the matchday squad though

• On Klopp: "I wasn't surprised. When he told me I was happy because I know how hard the decision was. It shows a lot of personality and bravery. Only he knows what's best for him"

• "It it is more than friendship, he is like a family member." Wagner spoke about his close relationship with Jurgen Klopp

• Wagner said George Long is set to start in goal for Norwich on Sunday

Image source, Getty Images

Ahead of Norwich City's visit to Anfield to play Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday (14.30 GMT), Reds manager Jurgen Klopp announced on Friday that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Klopp took over as boss in October 2015 and his contract was due to run until 2026.

He led Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years in 2019-20, having won the Champions League the previous season.

"I told the club already in November," the German told the Liverpool website.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean says he's desperate to play in the Canaries FA Cup fourth round tie at Liverpool on Sunday (14.30 GMT).

The Scottish international was speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk following City's 1-0 defeat at Leeds on Wednesday:

"I want to play in these games. They're top of the Premier League just now, so what better way to test yourself? Whoever gets the opportunity to play should represent the club as well as they can," he said.

"There have been changes in the cup because the manager trusts the squad, trusts players to come in and do the same job.

"It's a question of whether he wants to freshen things up, not just as a token because he wants to give lads minutes but because they deserve it, they are working hard in training - it's not a case of giving people a game for the sake of it.

"The manager will pick the team he feels can go there and get a result."

You can listen to the full interview with Kenny McLean on BBC Sounds here.

Opinion: Will Norwich regret a quiet transfer window?

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

Defeat to Leeds United on Wednesday night wasn’t overly surprising, but in my opinion we played well in the second half and just about deserved a point.

We didn’t get a point, however, but it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Adam Idah had a huge chance after a rapid counter-attack late in the second half, which along with Gabriel Sara’s chance at the end of the first half, was our best goalscoring opportunity.

Idah, who has had his critics despite the seven goals to his name in all competitions this season, has unfortunately shown a lack of killer instinct in front of goal of late; the almost unmissable open goal against Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup home tie and last night’s chance being the biggest examples of this.

Before I go any further, by no means am I wanting to make Adam Idah a scapegoat for Norwich not picking up more wins than we have this season — those problems mainly lie at David Wagner’s door, but that’s a story for another day.

Since the return of Josh Sargent it’s been evident how much we missed him while he was out injured. He’s averaged a goal every 116 minutes this season - albeit having missed a large portion of available games - but does show signs of being a clinical striker, with two goals already this calendar year since returning from injury.

Idah has made 33 appearances this season and averages 220 minutes per goal. He may be a year younger than Sargent, but the end product and football intelligence is vastly different. This isn’t so much Idah’s fault, he’s just not at the level we need him to be.

Everyone has their level and it’d be silly to expect a one-litre family car to compete with a performance motor when side by side in a 0-60mph drag race. The same can be said of strikers. Many have argued that Idah should’ve been loaned out in previous seasons, but that’s gone now and can’t change. Useful as it would likely have been, it doesn’t change the fact that our only real backup centre forward - given that Barnes has played more often than not behind the striker - isn’t a reliable source of Championship goals.

The concern is not only that Norwich haven’t got the strength in depth offensively to live up to this season’s potential, but that other teams are strengthening and are strengthening well.

Hull City have signed Fábio Carvalho on loan from Liverpool. Our neighbours in Suffolk have loaned Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton until the end of the season. Finn Azaz has gone on loan to Middlesbrough from Aston Villa. Swansea City even had the acumen to bring in the highly experienced Yannick Bolasie on a free transfer in November. Bolasie’s best days may well be behind him, but there’d have been some who said the same about summer signings Ashley Barnes, Shane Duffy and Adam Forshaw, the latter of whom lasted less than five months in yellow and green with just nine appearances for the club.

Whilst the aforementioned January loan signings are wingers, the fact that fellow promotion candidates are bolstering their attacking output and we aren’t is concerning.

If Norwich are serious about capitalising on an upturn in form of late and a run at the play-off places, then some additional quality has to be the priority. There’s been a lot of talk that we need another holding midfielder, but with Kenny McLean back in his usual midfield role and playing like prime Busquets (okay, that may be a little stretch), and good squad options in Gibbs and Sorensen - provided the Dane can stay fit - then there’s every chance that Norwich might come to regret not having a good second-choice goalscorer competing for minutes.

As caller Tom said on Saturday evening’s Canary Call, two or three signings in January might even push other members of the squad to kick on from a performance perspective. Additional competition for places and a bit of quality can only be a good thing. Tom said, and I agree, that this is “too big an opportunity” to miss and that all it’d take is an injury to the likes of Sara, Rowe or Sargent again and we’d certainly be up against at.

Let’s hope that we’re savvy enough to bring in that bit of quality that would’ve increased our chances of a draw at Leeds, as opposed to someone who’s maybe not quite at the level required. I want Adam Idah to succeed at Norwich City, but it might not happen, at least not yet.

We need better solutions off the bench; solutions that’ll kick the rest of the squad on and give us every chance of making the rest of this season a success, rather than regretfully just missing the mark.

For the record, the transfer window closes at midnight on Thursday 1 February, so Norwich still have time.

Image source, Getty Images

Your views on Leeds 1-0 Norwich

As usual, plenty of Norwich City fans wanted to have a say after their latest game. Here's your reaction to the Canaries defeat at Leeds United:

Paul - As good as possession was, still only one shot on target. No cutting edge and a really sloppy goal to concede (standard NCFC!). How standards and quality etc have fallen that we are happy with one goal defeat. Had more possession than recent games but didn’t seem know what to do with it. We need another striker. Always felt Leeds had more gears to go through too.

Andy - Not surprised we lost at Leeds. We have won only once against the top six teams, that was WBA at home. We have no spine in the team, too many creative players with little bottle! Need to find an Alex Tettey or a Trevor Hockey!

George - It was a decent performance but we just didn’t have a finishing product. Wagner is starting to get his head around this team and I truly believe we can push for play-offs.

Freddie - Another spirited performance, but we lack a cutting edge up top. We’re crying out for a creative outlet to provide our attacking talent with chances, as we’re not doing it enough and the stats show that. Rowe and Sarge are being hindered beyond belief. Liverpool is a free hit for me personally, just hope we get FA Cup magic and cause a shock.

Jeremy - Norwich City could have defended a bit better and could have scored a couple of goals against Leeds before it came to half time.

It was a lively phone-in on BBC Radio Norfolk following Norwich City's 1-0 defeat at Leeds United.

Among the discussion points were Adam Idah's performance, what City potentially need in the transfer window plus Wagner's substitutions during the game.

Listen again on BBC Sounds here.

Have your say on Norwich's defeat at Leeds

Norwich City's Championship play-off push was stalled by a 1-0 defeat at Leeds United on Wednesday.

Former City loanee Patrick Bamford scored the only goal of the game at Elland Road.

What did you make of the defeat?

Should Norwich be looking to recruit in the transfer window?

Are you confident ahead of the trip to Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday?

Get in touch here.

Bradley Johnson's verdict on Leeds 1-0 Norwich

Norwich City were beaten 1-0 by Leeds United on Wednesday.

Former Canaries and Leeds midfielder Bradley Johnson was the guest summariser on BBC Radio Norfolk, here's what he had to say at full-time:

"Norwich will be coming away from the game disappointed they've lost, but there was a lot of positives in that game".

He continued: "Moments in games change it, and that moment in the first half when Patrick Bamford found himself free in our six-yard box to put a header in changed the game.

"I feel in the second half with all the possession we did have, we didn't create anything and test their goalkeeper and I think they (Norwich) will be disappointed with that."

"This is a hard place to come. Leeds are on a good run of form and haven't lost here all season. We gave a good account of ourselves tonight," Johnson said.

You can listen to more from Bradley Johnson on Canary Call with BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Norfolk's Norwich City commentator Chris Goreham set his usual pre-match question earlier. Here's a reminder of the teaser:

Since 2010, two players have won Leeds United's player of the season award who have also played for Norwich City. Can you name them?

Thanks to everyone who sent us their guesses. The answers are:

Robert Snodgrass - 2012

Sam Byram - 2013

Norwich City head to Leeds United in the Championship on Wednesday (19.45 GMT).

You can listen to live coverage with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview from 19.00 GMT.

Guest summariser is former Norwich and Leeds midfielder Bradley Johnson.

Norwich City have arguably their two biggest games of the season in the coming days.

On Wednesday they head to Elland Road to play Leeds United in the Championship and on Sunday it's a trip to Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Canaries' head coach David Wagner said it won't be difficult to get the players up for a game against one of the biggest clubs in the country when they face Leeds.

Here's some stats (provided by OPTA) ahead of Wednesday's big game at Elland Road (19.45 GMT):

• Leeds United have won each of their last three Football League games against Norwich, only between September 1972 and December 1973 have they ever won four in a row against them

• Norwich lost their last league visit to Leeds 2-1 in March 2022 in the Premier League, though did win the last time these two sides were in the Championship in February 2019 (3-1)

• Norwich have conceded in each of their last 12 away league games (25 in total), though did win their most recent one against Hull (2-1); they last won successive such matches in January last season

• Only against Blackburn (4) has Leeds’ Joël Piroe started more Championship games without scoring than against Norwich (3), hitting the target with just one of his seven shots against them in the competition

David Wagner says his team must be at their absolute best to beat Leeds United in the Championship on Wednesday (19.45 GMT).

Leeds haven't been beaten at Elland Road all season.

Time for another quiz, this time ahead of Norwich City's trip to Leeds United on Wednesday (19.45 GMT):

Since 2010, two players have won Leeds United's player of the season award who have also played for Norwich City. Can you name them?

Send us your answers here.

Opinion: A mini-revival at Carrow Road

Gary Gowers, My Football Writer - Norwich City, external

We’re a fickle old bunch us Norwich City supporters.

Wind the clock back to the start of December and most of us were fuming. Everything felt wrong.

Off the field, joint-majority shareholder Delia Smith was calling out some of the fans for being moaners and whingers and when questioned by a local journalist on the club’s unusual governance structure, she accused him (and the supporters) of “not having a clue”.

There was also disquiet around how much unchecked power had been afforded by the owners to the club’s executive director Zoe Webber and her small band of suits, and all against the backdrop of a mid-table team that was playing turgid football and a head coach who, in my opinion, had lost the trust of the supporters.

The relationship between club and supporter felt broken to me.

Yet here we are, just 24 days into 2024 and the mood has changed. And it’s certainly not because of anything that’s happened off the pitch.

Delia has said and done nothing to suggest she has altered her view of the whingers and moaners, and Zoe and her suits are still in situ and therefore still in control.

But, in typical football fashion, all of that angst has been temporarily shelved – forgotten even – because on the pitch something unexpected has occurred. Some would call it a mini-revival.

Since the beginning of December, City have lost just twice and, courtesy of five wins and three draws, have taken themselves to within two places and two points of the playoffs.

Even the beleaguered David Wagner now has his elbows out and is pushing back against some of the criticism he deemed unfair. After Saturday’s excellent win over West Brom, he joined the players in some post-match olés in front of a buoyant Barclay.

For the time being at least, there is calm. Hope, even.

It could all unravel quite quickly of course – we play at Elland Road on Wednesday in what will be City’s toughest test of the season – but if nothing else, it proves that ultimately all us supporters want is a team that competes and of which we can be proud.

Give us that, and all of the off-field stuff can wait for another day.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Norwich City's best central defensive pairing. When the squad is fully fit, there's plenty of options.

Here's what you had to say:

Tommy - I think our best centre-back pairing at the moment is Gibson and Duffy (Hanley for Duffy when fully fit). Gibson has been getting unwarrented abuse by some 'fans'. I have also been a fan of 3 at the back and I'd like to see us do this. Allowing wing-backs to push on and allowing the likes of Sara, Rowe and Sainz to stay more central behind Sargent.

Jack - Gibson gets a lot of stick from the fans but he does provide good performances when we really need them. That said, I would still like some consistency and that is probably his biggest weakness. Duffy and McLean have made a pretty impressive pair thus far - but I much prefer McLean in his CDM-type role. Selling Omobamidele was a huge mistake.

George - On reported wages of £45k per week, these would have to be seriously reduced if being offered another contract. If not willing to reduce then we should look at offloading him this January.

Tulsa - Even with a fully fit squad, my CB pairing would be Duffy and McLean. Like James said on The Scrimmage on Monday, Gibson is error-prone. I'd much rather we sell Gibson to free-up the wage bill. Except for when Gibson was initially here on loan, I've never been impressed by him.

Stocksy - Yes, Ben Gibson is a centre-half that can do a job but he's absolutely not a "ball playing" centre-half and to use him as one is laughable.

Glen - Duffy and McLean.

Scrimmage co-host Chris Reeve thinks Norwich City head coach David Wagner should be credited for remaining stoic in the face of criticism from the fans and media.

The Canaries head to Leeds United in the Championship on Wednesday (19.45 GMT) and a win could see City make it into the top six.

Norwich supporter James Hastings joined Chris and Rob Butler for the podcast.

You can listen in full on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City central defender Ben Gibson has been named in the EFL team of the week., external

Gibson was part of the City back four who beat West Brom 2-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday 20 January.

The Canaries have plenty of options for the heart of their defence when at full strength - Gibson, Grant Hanley, Shane Duffy, Danny Batth and Kenny McLean have all played in that position this season.

Tell us who you think is City's best centre-back pairing here.

The Scrimmage panel discussed fans' perceptions of Norwich City head coach David Wagner.

Does he deserve more credit? The Canaries have had an upturn in form which has cemented their place as genuine Championship play-off contenders.

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve were joined by City fan James Hastings.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

Norwich City supporter Andy Wall suffered a cardiac arrest during a match against Hull City last August.

His wife George and two children were with him on the day and cared for by staff from the football club.

Mr Wall, who is 44, was treated by paramedics at Carrow Road and has made a full recovery.

The whole family was back at Carrow Road on Saturday for the 2-0 win over West Brom in the Championship.

Before the game they spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler.

You can listen to the interview here.