Manchester City look to make it five games unbeaten with win at Norwich City

Manchester City can maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign with a victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road in the late-evening kick-off.

Pep Guardiola’s side will extend their fine start to the season to five games by beating Daniel Farke’s Canaries.

Last time out, Guardiola’s side brushed Brighton & Hove Albion aside by four goals without response. On that sunny afternoon at the Etihad, Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva were all on-target while Sergio Aguero hit a brace.

For Farke’s Canaries, however, it was another game of disappointment as goals from Sebastien Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko struck the match-winning goals for West Ham United.

The Norfolk-based side, if defeated, will have lost four successive league and cup games for just the second time under current boss Farke.

Team news

The hosts will be without Christoph Zimmermann (ankle/foot), Tom Trybull (ankle), Max Aarons (ankle/foot), Onel Hernandez (knee), Timm Klose (knee), Mario Vrancic (calf), Patrick Roberts and Moritz Leitner as they face an injury crisis.

Grant Hanley (groin/hip) could feature as a substitute but will not start from the offset against the reigning champions. Tim Krul (knock) faces a late fitness test to see whether he can face Manchester City, as will Ben Godfrey (groin/hip).

Leroy Sane (knee), Benjamin Mendy (knee) and Aymeric Laporte (knee) are unlikely to play. Ilkay Gundogan (unknown) was diagnosed with a cold but is expected to return against Norwich City. John Stones (thigh) and Gabriel Jesus (thigh) could face the Canaries.

From the dug-outs:

Speaking ahead of the home tie, Norwich City boss Daniel Farke said:

“There were more lads today on the physio beds than out on the training pitch!

“It is definitely a tricky situation for us – we are playing one of the best teams in the world.

“Every lad in this dressing room is needed. There will be a few debuts… I will back my lads whatever happens.

“Manchester City are so special in their style… if you just try to park the bus, then you have no chance… even if I wanted to park the bus, I have no more defensive players!”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola added: 

“We have played four games, which is nothing. Now we start the real competition, we play Saturday, we travel to Ukraine Monday and play Wednesday, we land Thursday afternoon and Saturday we have the Premier League and then go to Preston.

“The next five games [in all competitions], four are away. Many things can happen, we have had two terrible injuries with Leroy [Sane] and Aymeric [Laporte] so we will see.”

Head-to-head

Norwich City have won only twice against Manchester City. Their solitary win in the past 14 Premier League meetings was 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the 2012-13 season.

City’s only other win against Manchester City came at home in February 1993.