Manchester United will welcome struggling Norwich City to Old Trafford this Saturday with both teams looking to get maximum points that will keep their quest for their season’s goal alive.
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)
Key Statistics
Manchester United have taken just one win in seven competitive matches (three draws and three losses).
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last six home games in the league (three wins and three draws).
They have won five of their last six home head-to-head meetings with Norwich by keeping a clean sheet.
Norwich City have taken just one point from their last four away league games (three losses).
The visitors have scored just twice before half-time in away league action this term.
They have scored just 20 goals in the league this season – the fewest in the league.
Only Leeds United (68 goals) have conceded more goals than Norwich City (63 goals).
Head to head
Both sides have met 19 times in the Premier League, with Manchester United winning 15 of those fixtures while Norwich have three wins and one draw.
Latest performances in all competitions
Manchester United: L-D-L-W-L
Norwich: W-D-L-L-L
Manchester United
Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Norwich City to Old Trafford on Saturday.
The hosts have endured a torrid time in recent times, as they have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions. Their last outing was a disappointing 1-0 loss to relegation-strugglers Everton.
The loss leaves Ralf Rangnick’s side trailing Tottenham by six points in their race for a top-four finish. The interim coach is thinking a Premier League (PL) top-four place is out of reach, stating after the Everton game that “If we play as we did here we just don’t deserve it”.
They will now hope that they can get a win at home. However, with the fans planning a protest against the club’s owners in this game, the Red Devils will hope that won’t prove a distraction. The hosts haven’t lost a home league game since January (W3, D3) with three clean sheets amongst that sequence and should fancy their chances of getting a win in this game.
Rangnick’s injury list includes Edinson Cavani, Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane, while Mason Greenwood remains suspended by the club.
Possible Manchester United starting line-up
David de Gea; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Rafael Varane, Alex Telles; Fred, Nemanja Matić, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba; Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga.
Injured: Edinson Cavani, Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Mason Greenwood
Norwich
Norwich did their chances of survival a world of good with a 2-0 win over Burnley last time out.
The win was secured courtesy of an early goal by Pierre Lees-Melou and a late strike by Teemu Pukki and extended Norwich City’s unbeaten run to two games following a goalless draw with Brighton in the game before that.
But with the visitors still seven points adrift of 17th-placed Everton, with seven games remaining, manager Dean Smith has a mountain to climb.
Given that they have just one win in their last ten games, it is almost impossible to see them surviving this season. Also, given that they have one point from their last four PL away fixtures (D1, L3), it remains to be seen how many points they can gather before the end of the season.
But at least they will want to win this game as a win in this game will could their league position and take them off the foot of the table.
Meanwhile, Ozan Kabak, Adam Idah and Andrew Bamidele are all out with injuries while Przemyslaw Placheta and Joshua Sargent are in a race against time to be available for this game.
Possible Norwich starting line-up
Tim Krul; Max Aarons, Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson, Brandon Williams; Kenny McLean, Mathias Normann, Billy Gilmour; Kieran Dowell, Teemu Pukki, Milot Rashica.
Injured: Ozan Kabak, Adam Idah and Andrew Bamidele
Doubtful: Przemyslaw Placheta and Joshua Sargent
Suspended: None
Prediction
Manchester United 1-1 Norwich