September 13, 2019
he Canaries will take on their third 'big-six' opponents this season on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League, when reigning champions Manchester City visit Carrow Road. On paper, this fixture oozes goals.
City have maintained their free-scoring antics from last term with a league-topping 14 goals to date, but Norwich also rank impressively in fifth with six goals - level with Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester.
Sergio Aguero tops the scoring chart with six to his name, followed by team-mate Raheem Sterling on five - who is level with Norwich striker Teemu Pukki.
At the other end of the pitch, City are also watertight with three conceded - only Crystal Palace have shipped fewer. But the same cannot be said for Daniel Farke's side, who have conceded a league-high 10 so far.
The Canaries' tough opening schedule undoubtedly exaggerates signs of defensive frailties, but Farke is likely stick to his attacking principles in an unchanged 4-2-3-1 this weekend against the league's most prolific finishers.
Playing style
The Canaries set out their stall in the season-opening 4-1 defeat at Liverpool, taking the game to the European champions with glimpses of promise - primarily advanced full-backs, progressive play and Pukki's potency in front of goal.
Speaking after that game, Gary Neville said: "Norwich were bright, inventive and tried to play the right way. Teemu Pukki scoring was a big moment for Norwich City to give the fans something to go home on."
Indeed, Pukki's goal proved catalytic in the early weeks, proceeding to score a match-winning hat-trick against Newcastle and grabbing another in the 3-2 defeat to Chelsea, before his goal streak ended at West Ham last weekend.
Against Chelsea, Farke's undeterred attacking style against 'big-six' opposition was reinforced, piling forwards to level the scores on two occasions before Tammy Abraham secured three points for the visitors.
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David vs Goliath
The David vs Goliath analogy has become a cliche to describe newly-promoted sides facing Pep Guardiola's free-scoring juggernauts in recent campaigns. It is easy to see why.
In addition to City's back-to-back titles and plethora of smashed records, newly-promoted teams have only collected four points out of a possible 54 against City during Guardiola's reign - the most recent being Wolves in August last year.
And then there is the cash. Compared with previous transfer windows, City spent a comparatively modest £135m on signings this summer - but that is still 123 times the £1.1m spent by the Norfolk club.
But can Norwich make it third time lucky against 'big-six' opponents and pack a punch against the biggest giant?
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