In the last year we've come a long way at Norwich City. When I started writing this column last October, we had just beaten Reading and we're preparing for a trip to Wigan - where we drew 1-1 - and sat in sixth place in the First Division.

Today, we are looking forward to our next game in the Premiership, at home to Portsmouth, as we aim to bounce back from defeat at Anfield against an impressive Liverpool side.

We're seven places higher in the grand scheme of things, but that gulf is so vast.  Last Saturday Liverpool were very good, and, for the first 45 minutes at least, we were average. The second half was much better from our point of view, we came out and were playing for pride and worked hard to keep it to 3-0. It could have been a lot worse.

One thing that separates the top teams from the rest is the sheer quality and depth of their squads.  Last week Steven Gerrard limped out from their match at Old Trafford, but in came Dietmar Hamann, another extremely talented and experienced international player. 

On Saturday, though, it was two other players, new to the Premiership, who shone. Keep your eyes out for Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia. The two Spaniards were different class. I’d just love the opportunity to bring them in on loan to Carrow Road - if Liverpool wouldn't mind paying their wages for a month.

But it's been a very good experience for us so far, and of the teams we’ve played up to now, all, bar Crystal Palace, who currently reside in the top ten, it has been Liverpool and Arsenal who have really caught the imagination and made us start to understand what this Premiership is all about. Having said that, we also have to bear in mind is that, when we went to Old Trafford, Manchester United were without Rio Ferdinand, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney, so they are definitely going to be a force.

All three of them were in Champions League action in midweek, but we saw Liverpool and Arsenal both fail to get what they wanted from their away ties. The intensity of the matches, both in terms of the quality of opponents and the pressure of playing at the very top can sometimes take its toll on players. It’s not just the games themselves, but the preparation, the traveling to a from the venues. We need to think of a way to look after the teams at the top end, especially those playing in the Champions League.

If English clubs are going to progress in these Competitions, then they need to be given a fair crack of the whip, and anyway they can be helped will only benefit them when they go away from home to places like Norway, Greece and Russia.

For us, though, despite having picked up four points, we’re not looking too far ahead. We just concentrate on the next game. The one thing we set out to do is play good football and, yes, we want to get results, but if we stick at it, keep believing and keep working hard, hopefully the three-pointers will come.

We’re not feeling the pressure, there is a very long way to go. After these first seven games, I’ve not been surprised by what we have here at Carrow Road. I fully expected what has happened so far and the big thing is that it’s a tough challenge and we’re very much up for it.

We’ll keep plugging away, like Portsmouth, who we entertain tomorrow afternoon. Last season Harry's side put a good run together at the end to stay in the Premiership. Yes, for the sake of the grey hairs, you don’t want to leave it till that late. But while there’s life there’s hope and as long as you’re prepared to scrape and battle and scratch for every single point, I always believe your got a chance.

Nigel Worthington