Norwich City vs Manchester United preview, predictions & possible XIs
Norwich City and Manchester United will both be looking for some relief to their Premier League form when they clash at Carrow Road on Sunday.
The Canaries come into this game having won only two of their opening nine games and are now winless in four. They managed to stop the rot against Bournemouth last weekend but the 0-0 draw does not hide the fact that Daniel Farke’s men have conceded 21 goals already this season.
Going forward, there appears to be less to worry about. Having netted 10 times in the Premier League, more than both Crystal Palace and Sheffield United who are comfortably sat in the top half of the table, you sense Norwich can cause other teams problems but that backline must tighten up if they’re to avoid a swift return to the Championship.
United battled to a 1-0 win in Belgrade on Thursday having put in a solid performance against rivals Liverpool last weekend. The recent slump has seen pressure ever-mounting on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and with good reason. United sit just two points above the relegation zone and only three ahead of Norwich, so avoiding defeat is paramount for the Red Devils here.
Read on for our Norwich City v Manchester United preview, prediction, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Norwich City vs Man Utd and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Carrow Road
Date: Sunday, 27 October 2019
Kick-off: 4:30 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Norwich City vs Man Utd
07 May 2016: Norwich City 0-1 Man United (Premier League)
19 December 2015: Man United 1-2 Norwich City (Premier League)
26 April 2014: Man United 4-0 Norwich City (Premier League)
28 December 2013: Norwich City 0-1 Man United (Premier League)
29 October 2013: Man United 4-0 Norwich City (League Cup)
Aggregate Score: Norwich City (LWLLL) 1-11 Man Utd (WLWWW)
Ones to watch
Norwich City: Teemu Pukki
Anyone who saw Teemu Pukki play prior to his move to Carrow Road will still be pinching themselves or, as many have probably done, wondered if this is the same man.
His goal-scoring rate for the Canaries has been transformative for both his career and Norwich’s standing in the English game. Brondby fans will be smirking because they knew how good he would be but 35 goals in 52 league games is an astonishing record.
Six goals in nine appearances in the Premier League so far is a brilliant continuation of where he left off last season and if that continues the Canaries will soon be moving up the table.
Key stat: Each of Pukki’s six goals have come from inside the penalty area this season, a higher ratio than any other player in the Premier League to have scored five or more goals so far.
Manchester United: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
With a big price tag comes big pressure but for such a young man, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has taken it all in his stride so far this season.
Seen as a key cog in United’s future, the former Palace right-back has shown immense energy so far this season, with an excellent ability to recover if he is beaten by a player. That said, he has only been dribbled past six times in nine appearances so far this season, which is an outstanding rate.
Along with Daniel James and Harry Maguire, Wan-Bissaka will be an important part of the United rebuild and despite the club’s poor start he has stood out for his top-draw performances.
Key stat: Only Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi (4.8) has made more tackles per game than Aaron Wan-Bissaka (4.7) in the Premier League this season.
Team news
Norwich City
There are a fair few on the treatment table at Carrow Road with Grant Hanley out until December following groin surgery and both Timm Klose and Christoph Zimmermann out with knee and ankle injuries respectively.
Mario Vrancic and Ralf Fahrmann are doubts but Ben Godfrey is available to play after being subbed off last week in the draw at Bournemouth due to soreness following a hernia operation.
Predicted XI: Krul; Aarons, Amadou, Godfrey, Lewis; Buendia, McLean, Tettey, Leitner, Cantwell; Pukki.
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Manchester United
United will be without several players for the trip to East Anglia with Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Diogo Dalot all out injured, while Paul Pogba is a major doubt after picking up an ankle injury.
Axel Tuanzebe will not feature due to an ongoing hip problem while Nemanja Matic is also out.
Predicted XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; Fred, McTominay; James, Pereira, Rashford; Martial.
Squawka prediction
United have played some classic encounters with the Canaries over the years but never, you feel, have they been so close to them near the bottom of the Premier League.
Norwich will need to rely on their home form if they are to stay up this season and both their wins so far have come at Carrow Road. They will be looking to replicate the kind of performance that saw them upset United’s cross-town rivals in mid-September and they should not be taken lightly, regardless of recent form.
Scoreline prediction: Norwich City 2-2 Manchester United
