Norwich City vs Manchester City preview: Stones and Jesus fit again after injury

By Ric Turner, Fri 13 September 2019 15:05


Norwich City vs Manchester City preview: Stones and Jesus fit again after injuryDuo could be in line for recall at Carrow Road

Norwich City vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 14th September 2019

Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich

Referee: Kevin Friend Assistants: M Wilkes, S Massey-Ellis Fourth Official: P Banks

Odds: Norwich, 16/1, Draw 8/1, City 1/7

Tickets: Sold out.

TV: Sky Sports

Norwich City

Manager: Daniel Farke

Squad (from): Krul, McGvern, Fahrmann, Aarons, Byram, Hanley, Zimmermann, Lewis, Heise, Roberts, Vrancic, Leitner, Cantwell, Buendia, Stiepermann, McLean, Amadou, Tettey, Godfrey, Drmic, Pukki, Srbeny, Idah

Injured: Trybull, Klose, Hernandez

Doubtful: Hanley, Aarons, Zimmermann

Suspended: None

Form guide: LLLW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ederson, Bravo, Carson, Angelino, Cancelo, Mendy, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, Rodri, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Jesus

Injured: Laporte, Sane

Doubtful: Mendy

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWDW

Gabriel Jesus and John Stones have both recovered from their respective injuries, and could be recalled to the starting XI at Carrow Road. Ilkay Gundogan has also recovered from a stomach problem, whilst Benjmain Mendy has trained without any problems for the last three weeks. Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte are likely to be out until the new yea.

City have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, and are currently in second place in the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool. Manager Pep Guardiola has said, however, that it is too early to make any predictions in the title race.

“I’m not a pundit. Every week they make predictions about what will happen but now we start the real competition,” Guardiola said.

“(On) Saturday away at (Norwich) then we travel to Ukraine on Monday, two days before we play Wednesday. Next Saturday (we have Watford) in the Premier League, then we go to Preston in the Carabao Cup.

“So in the next five games, four away, many things can happen, injuries like Leroy and Aymeric. We will see, it’s too early to say what will happen.

“Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Spurs, Leicester, Everton are all doing well. Anything can happen.

“In February, March I could say yeah there’s two, three or four contenders but not now after just four games.”

City's last visit to Carrow Road ended in a drab 0-0 draw. Overall City have won 36 of the 68 games played against Norwich, with 23 draws and 9 defeats.

Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling will look to continue their impressive starts to the season, with the City forwards becoming one of the great sport combinations.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodri, D Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero

Score prediction: Norwich City 1 Manchester City 3