Manchester United legend Gary Neville has praised the attacking approach of Norwich City despite their 4-1 loss to Liverpool, backing the Canaries to impress in the Premier League – if they can improve defensively.

Working in his usual role as a pundit for Sky Sports, Neville highlighted the chances the Canaries created during the first half at Anfield, when Marco Stiepermann had three shots at goal and Teemu Pukki twice threatened the Reds' goal, with Tom Trybull heading just wide from a corner.

Daniel Farke's team got their reward with a typically clinical strike from Pukki during the second half to reduce the arrears to 4-1 against the European champions but the damage had been done in the first half.

"On another day, there's no doubt, Norwich could have had three or four goals," said Neville. "They did look a little bit toothless at times, in the sense of Liverpool every time they seemed to shoot in the first half, it went it.

"But, again, Liverpool trying to hold their line, not getting the offside right, Pukki getting his chance with Buendia coming in off that right-hand side, don't underestimate how big a moment that is for the Norwich players, the club and the fans behind that goal.

"Norwich is a million miles away and those fans have got to travel five or six hours home and to have that moment of that goal at Anfield is really big - and it can give them some confidence, to see them down 4-0, but to get a huge moment.

"At half-time you saw shots of those fans and they looked really dejected and you thought, it could be six, seven or eight, and they could really be going home feeling low.

"But they carry some positivity home and that's important carrying it forward. They really were bright, there won't be many teams come to Anfield and create as many chances as they have this season."

MORE: National media left largely unimpressed by 'compliant' Canaries' efforts at Liverpool

Highlighting a need to make the most of home games, starting against Newcastle on Saturday, the former England right-back was pleased to see Farke sticking to his principles even for the most difficult of challenges.

He added: "They play out from the back in a really progressive manner and it's risky but it can also bring reward. It's just how many times the risk-reward strategy will bring them points.

"We've seen teams like Burnley do it a certain way, Bournemouth do it a different way, Norwich have got their own way and what the manager has just said is absolutely spot on, you have to stick to what you're doing."

- You can watch Neville's full analysis in the video above