Norwich City welcome Bournemouth to Carrow Road in a Premier League relegation six-pointer showdown.
A home win would see Norwich move to within three points of second-bottom Bournemouth, whereas a Cherries win could leave the Canaries cut adrift by at least nine points if not more.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesGrant Hanley is set to be available for Norwich after overcoming illness, which saw him subbed during last weekend’s defeat at Manchester United.
Teemu Pukki (hamstring/toe) and Ben Godfrey (knee) are also expected to return but Josip Drmic (hamstring) is a week away from finding himself back in contention.
Timm Klose remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury.
Bournemouth are expected to have Jefferson Lerma available despite the Colombian suffering a knock to his knee during last weekend’s loss to Watford.
Aaron Ramsdale (hamstring) and Lloyd Kelly (thigh) could also be available for selection, whilst Junior Stanislas (calf) isn’t ready until next weekend at earliest.
Arnaut Danjuma (foot), Jack Stacey, Joshua King (both hamstring), Charlie Daniels, Chris Mepham (both knee) and David Brooks (ankle) remain out.
Form
Norwich are winless in their last nine league games (D4, L5) despite scoring in seven of those nine matches, including each of their last five home games in which they have earned just three points (D3, L2).
Bournemouth enter this game with just four points from their last 11 league outings (W1, D1, L9), whilst scoring just once in their last four away trips which came in a 1-0 win at Chelsea last month.
Stat Attack
- Norwich are unbeaten in two of three Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (W1, D1, L1).
- Alex Tettey is the only Norwich player to still remain at Carrow Road since their last and only previous Premier League home game against Bournemouth in September 2015.
- Norwich are unbeaten in three meetings at home against Bournemouth in all competitions since the Cherries dropped the ‘and Boscombe Athletic’ part from their name (W1, D2).
- There hasn’t been a red card in this Premier League fixture in three previous matchups.
- Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale is yet to save a league penalty this season.
Prediction
For Norwich, this is all or nothing because a win could provide them with a boost to go on and escape relegation otherwise they’re certainly going down.
Bournemouth meanwhile look to have gone as far as they can under Eddie Howe because Watford just tore them apart last weekend, yet they do have a serious injury crisis but that shouldn’t be affecting their performance much.
I therefore am expecting this game to define the seasons of both teams because Norwich have found consistent attacking form, whereas Bournemouth look to be in freefall all over the pitch which is a huge concern if Pukki starts for the Canaries.
Prediction: Norwich City 2-0 Bournemouth
Result: Norwich City 1-0 Bournemouth