Belgian midfielder missed training today and faces a late fitness test
Manchester City vs Norwich City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 3.00 pm, Saturday 21st August 2021
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Graham Scott Assistants: H Lennard, S Long Fourth Official: P Bankes VAR: J Moss
Odds: City 1/10, Draw 10/1, Norwich 25/1
TV: Match of the Day
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Steffen, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Laporte, Mendy, Cancelo, Grealish, Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Sterling, Jesus, Torres, Mahrez
Injured: Foden
Doubtful: Gundogan, De Bruyne
Suspended: None
Form guide: LL
Norwich City
Manager: Daniel Farke
Squad (from): Krul, Gunn, McGovern, Aarons, Byram, Gibson, Hanley, Mumba, Giannoulis, Omobamidele, Rupp, Gilmour, Dowell, Cantwell, Rashica, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, McLean, Hernandez, Tzolis, Pukki, Sargent, Idah
Injured: Byram, Placheta
Doubtful: Zimmermann, Hugill
Suspended: None
Form guide: L
Kevin De Bruyne is an injury doubt for the Blues ahead of the visit of Norwich City tomorrow. The Belgian midfielder was unable to train today and will face a late fitness test, according to manager Pep Guardiola. Ilkay Gundogan is available, however, after suffering an injury late on in the defeat at White Hart Lane, whilst Phil Foden is likely to be sidelined until after the international break.
Guardiola was full of praise for the visitors ahead of City's first home game of the season:
“Daniel is an exceptional manager. I always enjoy watching his teams play,” the boss declared in his pre-match press conference.
“I didn't see much last year but the year they were in the Premier League they didn’t get results but they played really well.
“They are a team that are going to try to play, with the movements of (Teemu) Pukki and the others.
“We are going to prepare to play a really good team. We are incredibly delighted to finally play at the Etihad with our people.
“I have a lot of respect for them, especially Daniel. Hopefully they will be at a good level.”
City won their last home league game against Norwich 5-0, with Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne (2), Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez scoring for the Blues. Overall City have won 37 of the 70 games played against Norwich, with 23 draws and 10 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Grealish, Gundogan, Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus
Score prediction: City 2 Norwich 1