Premier League: Norwich City v Manchester City match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Carrow Road

Manuel Pellegrini and his Manchester City side face (Reuters)

Manchester City struggled with midfielder Fernandinho on Monday and once again will have to face life without him again. The influential Brazilian is still out with a thigh injury and hopes to return for Champions League matches against Barcelona. Monday’s disappointing defeat at home to Chelsea means City may not be able to retake top spot if Arsenal win at Anfield in Saturday’s early kick off.

City’s frightening attack may have been numbed by Jose Mourinho on Monday, but Norwich are all too familiar with goalscoring capability of Manuel Pellegrini’s side. When the sides met at the Etihad in November, the home side ran out 7-0 winners that day and this fixture always seems to provide goals.

Norwich lie in 15th place just 2 points clear of the relegation zone and their home form this season has been rather inconsistent winning, drawing and losing 4 games. Manager Chris Hughton confirmed that defender Ryan Bennett may struggle to make the game having not trained all week and could see new loan-signing Joseph Yobo make his debut for the club and return to the Premier League after leaving Everton for Fenerbache in 2012.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Man City 7 (Johnson OG, Silva, Martin OG, Negredo, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko), Norwich 0, Premier League, November 2013

Man City 2 (Rodwell x2), Norwich 3 (Pilkington, Holt, Howson), Premier League, May 2013

Norwich 3 (Pilkington, Martin x2), Man City 4 (Dzeko x2, Aguero, Bunn OG), Premier League, December 2012

STATS…

Since Norwich have come into the league in 2011, there have been an average of 6.4 goals a game

City have the highest goal tally with 68

Man City have won 5 out of the last 6

Norwich concede an average of 16 shots per game

Manchester City have not lost successive Premier League games since October 2010.

When City won the League in 2011/12, Joe Hart’s shot to save ratio was 77 per cent, this year it is 70 percent

Manchester City have not lost successive Premier League games since October 2010 when they were beaten by Arsenal and Wolves.

ODDS…

Norwich to win: 9.5

Man City to win: 1.3

Draw: 5.0

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH

Manchester City cut Man United’s lead at the top of the table to two which put City’s title charge back on track, after trouncing Norwich 6-1 at Carrow Road in 2012. At the start of the game, the title started to look destined to head for Old Trafford, but City’s win reinvigorated their charge and put pressure on United. City won the league in dramatic fashion that year.

TV: Highlights on Match of the Day BBC1 at 10.30pm