Norwich City welcome Chelsea to Carrow Road in a rearranged Premier League encounter.
Victory would see Norwich climb off the foot of the table into 19th position if Watford lose at Wolves, whereas Chelsea will stay third with a win but open an eight-point lead over fourth-placed Arsenal.
Team News
Ozan Kabak could return for Norwich after missing their last two matches in all competitions with a shoulder injury.
Adam Idah (knee) and Andrew Omobamidele (back) remain absent.
Chelsea could have Cesar Azpilicueta available if he has recovered from a knock which forced him to miss their last two games.
Marcos Alonso (illness) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (Achilles) are back in contention but Ben Chilwell (knee) remains absent.
Stat Attack
- Norwich have claimed just two points from their last 13 league meetings against Chelsea (D2, L11).
- Chelsea have won five of their last six Premier League visits to Carrow Road (W5, D1).
- Both draws in the last 13 league meetings within this fixture finished goalless which came in January 2012 and May 2014 respectively.
- Norwich have picked up six bookings in three of four home league matches in 2022, with all six yellow cards shown after half-time.
- Three of Kai Havertz’s four league goals for Chelsea this season have been scored away from Stamford Bridge.
Prediction
Norwich were wasteful of their attacks in their defeat against Brentford last weekend, where aggressive fouling and lapses of focus proved costly so a reaction is crucial especially ahead of Sunday’s must-win visit to Leeds if they’re stand any chance of survival.
Having endured two sluggish first-half displays in their last two matches in all competitions, Chelsea certainly will be eager to correct that niggle here especially after delivering a controlled clinical attacking second-half display which proved the difference at Burnley on Saturday.
In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a weaker line-up here with Dean Smith instead targeting a win on Sunday, yet Chelsea definitely shouldn’t repeat their 7-0 home win of earlier this season because this should be much tighter in the first of three games in six days for Chelsea.
Prediction: Norwich 0-3 Chelsea
Result: Norwich 1-3 Chelsea
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