The arrival of Daniel Sturridge has at least eased the burden on Luis Suarez, the £12million new boy becoming Liverpool’s 12th different Premier League goalscorer this season.

Here, though, is another example of where the Anfield side can learn from United. When Nemanja Vidic helped in Patrice Evra’s header for what was ultimately the winner, he became United’s 16th different top-flight marksman of the campaign.

It’s the fourth time in the last five years Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have achieved such a feat. In the entire 21-season history of the Premier League, Liverpool have not managed more than 15.

One of the occasions on which Liverpool have romped to comfortable victory this season was a 5-2 win at Norwich City in September, a belated first league win of the Rodgers era with Suarez netting his second successive hat-trick in the Carrow Road fixture.

The Canaries, though, have since improved, although their autumn revival was halted by a dismal festive period in which they suffered four successive defeats.

A goalless draw at home to Newcastle United last time out stopped the rot, and David Fairclough, who played for Norwich briefly after making his name at Liverpool, anticipates a tough encounter when the teams meet at Anfield on Saturday.

“I’ve commentated on Norwich three or four times this season and they can be very deceptive,” he says.

“They are the type of team that can go to White Hart Lane and quite easily should have beaten Tottenham.

“If you underestimate a side like Norwich, they can catch you unawares.

“Liverpool had a great result at Carrow Road earlier in the season and it gave them a real boost at a time when they needed one.

“People looked at that game and thought Norwich would be in for a relegation battle, but they are better than that. They are a tricky team.

“Norwich won’t score a bagful of goals but if you don’t take their chances against them they can catch you out, much like Aston Villa did at Anfield recently.”

While Liverpool are within striking distance of a European qualification berth, they have still to beat a team from the top half of the table this campaign.

And Fairclough adds: “Liverpool have done okay this season.

“I was involved in a discussion last week, and somebody said the season had been disastrous. But for me, it hasn’t at all.

“Yes, they aren’t where they would want to be.

“But with the squad of players they have, should they be anywhere different?

“Maybe a position or two further up, but that’s about it.

“Liverpool’s squad still isn’t strong enough and, ideally, they’ll bring in a couple more new faces during this month’s transfer window.

“Most people accept that Brendan Rodgers has got a big job to do and has set about doing it.

“The group of players he has inherited aren’t the ones he’d have probably chosen, so it will take a while for him to move players in and out to get the squad he wants.”