Manchester City will be looking to bounce back after their Premier League opener defeat when they welcome Norwich City for the second Premier League matchday at Etihad Stadium on Saturday with kickoff at 17:00.
Manchester City opened their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday. A second half goal from Son Heung-min was enough to seal the three points for the hosts over the defending champions.
It has been a difficult August for Manchester City despite the acquisition of Jack Grealish and being regarded as the favorites to defend their Premier League title as Pep Guardiola’s side have already suffered defeats in their two competitive fixtures this season and the proposed deal for Harry Kane appears to be no closer to going through.
Indeed, Citizens lost 1-0 to Leicester City in the community shield on August 7 before losing 1-0 to Tottenham in their season opener and both matches showed just how badly Manchester City needs a striker with the club entering a difficult run as they are to face Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Liverpool in their following matches after this weekends meeting with Norwich City.
Manchester City will now be under pressure to put the three points on board in the Saturday’s clash and are regarded as the favorites since Guardiola’s side thumped Norwich 5-0 in their last meeting at Etihad. Also, when playing at home, Man City have not lost to Norwich in their last three encounters and City have a good home form as they have won all their last four home matches in a row.
Meanwhile Norwich City also opened their new Premier League campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Carrow Road last Saturday and their start back to the top tier could not get any difficult as they now prepare to take on Manchester City. Their run doesn’t get any easier as they are to face Leicester and Arsenal in their following matches and judging from their match against Liverpool, the Canaries appeared to have retained some of their problems from their last Premier League campaign.
The Canaries’ target this season will be stay in the Premier League and therefore will have to know that their home form will be crucial for them to hit their target and will need to avoid their defensive mistakes especially when against quality sides like Manchester City.
Manchester City vs Norwich City head to head
Manchester City and Norwich have met in 26 encounters since 1993 with the hosts claiming 13 victories while the visitors have claimed five victories and eight matches ended in draw.
- Man City 5-0 Norwich 26/07/20
- Norwich 3-2 Man City 14/09/19
- Norwich 0-0 Man City 12/03/16
- Norwich 0-3 Man City 09/01/16
- Man City 2-1 Norwich 31/10/15
Home
- Tottenham 1-0 Man City
- Leicester 1-0 Man City
- Man City 4-1 Blackpool
- Man City 4-0 Barnsley
- Man City 2-0 Preston
Away
- Norwich 0-3 Liverpool
- Newcastle 3-0 Norwich
- Norwich 5-0 Gillingham
- Norwich 2-0 Huddersfield
- Norwich 1-0 Lincoln
Manchester City team news
Manchester City will remain without Phil Foden who continues to nurse a foot injury while Ilkay Gundogan is doubtful after his shoulder injury last weekend.
Norwich City team news
Norwich will be without the services of Sam Byram and Przemyslaw Placheta.
Prediction and odds
- Manchester City win
- Goal over 2.5
- Both sides to score
