Norwich vs Manchester City: Prediction & Odds, Betting Tips 12/02/22

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Norwich host leaders Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday. Can the Canaries cause a major upset against Pep Guardiola’s title favourites? Read our free predictions and betting picks for the game here.

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Free predictions and betting picks for Norwich vs Manchester City

Bookmaker Ratings prediction one: Under 3.5 Goals – 1.7

Bookmaker Ratings prediction two: Highest Scoring Half – Second – 1.95

Under 3.5 Goals

While Premier League leaders Manchester City have been posting plenty of positive results, the Cityzens haven’t been overly prolific. 100% of their last five league fixtures produced under 3.5 goals, with City netting just seven times overall. Norwich are well organised under Dean Smith and they could make their opponents work had for three points. With that considered, back under 3.5 goals to hit the net again.

Highest Scoring Half: Second

Teams tend to sit very deep and defend with massed ranks against Manchester City and it can often take Pep Guardiola’s troops time to fire holes in their opponents’ defence. Indeed, five of City’s last six goals in the league have been plundered after the interval and no club has scored more often in the second half than the Manchester giants this term. Norwich will be determined to keep City at arm’s length for as long as possible on Saturday, and the second period could see more action than the first again.

Coming ?#NCFC | #NORMCI pic.twitter.com/siTpTbdDZo

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) February 11, 2022

Preliminary review and match prediction for Norwich vs Manchester City

With seven points gathered from their last three Premier League fixtures, Norwich’s decision to jettison Daniel Farke and replace the German with Dean Smith already looks like an inspired decision.

Having been labelled as relegation certainties earlier in the campaign, the Canaries are now just a single point from safety and a great escape suddenly looks achievable.

Their pursuit of survival might have to be parked this weekend however when league leaders and current champions Manchester City arrive in East Anglia.

Pep Guardiola’s winning machine won for the 13^th time in 14 Premier League fixtures in midweek when they pounced on a couple of defensive errors to beat Brentford 2-0 at The Etihad Stadium.

City weren’t exactly at their electric best, though they have become adept at recording victories with the brakes on, and though their performances haven’t always been easy on the eye, the champions keep churning out the right results.

Under 3.5 goals landing in each of their last five league matches is further indication of excitement levels in City’s matches being low, while a further four of the same tussles saw the net ripple two or fewer times.

With a recognizable natural centre-forward, City are reliant on less prolific players from midfield to chip in, while their threat from set-pieces has also allowed them to pick up the slack.

Dean Smith’s re-energized and well-drilled Norwich are unlikely to be steamrollered this weekend by Guardiola’s efficient title-favourites – like they were in Manchester in the Autumn (5-0) under their previous boss, Farke – and a more modest final scoreline in keeping with the Cityzens’ recent record looks more probable.

The dogged Canaries should be able to avoid a second hammering against City and we recommend backing under 3.5 goals to be notched as a primary bet this weekend.

Safe Bets

Kevin de Bruyne hasn’t been shy about shooting in recent weeks and the Belgian has mustered nine shots in his last three appearances for Man City alone. The midfielder tops the charts at the club for average attempts registered per game in the league this season (2.5) and the 30-year-old can be backed at 1.83 to hit two or more shots against Norwich this weekend.

Get Quick Rich

Norwich’s player of the month for January, Brandon Williams, is on loan with the Canaries from Man City’s rivals Manchester United and the tough-tackler defending will be determined to throw his weight about against the Cityzens. The 21-year-old has already been carded five times in 15 league appearances for Norwich this term and he is available at 3.4 to be cautioned again.

Norwich vs Manchester City first goalscorer

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for Man City against Brentford in midweek, taking his tally to three goals in two games since his return from AFCON. The wide attacker’s red-hot form makes him an outstanding candidate to notch first at Carrow Road at 4.5 and it’s worth remembering that the 30-year-old is his team’s designated penalty kick taker too.

Norwich vs Manchester City Team News

Tim Krul, Jacob Sorensen and Andrew Omobamidele are all expected to miss this weekend’s game for Norwich, though Joshua Sargent, Ozan Kabak and Lukas Rupp will all hope to be back in contention.

Gabriel Jesus and Cole Palmer are City’s only injury concerns ahead of their trip to Carrow Road. John Stones played at right-back for City against Brentford in midweek, though he is unlikely to reprise that role in East Anglia.

Starting Lineups

Norwich: Gunn – Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams – Sargent, Normann, McLean, Rashica – Pukki, Idah

Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo – de Bruyne, Rodri, Silva – Mahrez, Grealish, Sterling

Highlighted Player

Joao Cancelo

Portuguese fullback Joao Cancelo is in line to sweep up numerous player of the year awards and the 27-year-old has established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position this season. Cancelo’s driving runs from deep can unsettle any defence and Norwich will have to be on their toes to limit his influence.