Hello everyone, Freddie Humphry-Wakefield here bringing you live coverage of this Premier League fixture between 20th placed Norwich City, and sixth placed Manchester United at Carrow Road! I hope you enjoy this coverage and let me know your thoughts in the comment section.
Norwich will be desperate for all three points this evening, following a 3-0 away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, and also their first win at Carrow Road against Manchester United since November 2012.
As for the Red Devils. Ralf Rangnick will be looking for back-to-back wins in the Premier League as United boss, following a 1-0 home win against Crystal Palace last Saturday. He’ll also be pleased to know that his side haven’t lost to the Canaries since December 2015.
We’ve got one hour now until kick-off so that only means one thing. It’s time to have our first glance at today’s lineups! First off, here’s the squad Dean Smith has selected for this huge task ahead of him and his side:
Five changes made by Dean Smith to the side that lost at Spurs last week, as Giannoulis replaces Williams, Ozan Kabak replaces Andrew Omobamidele at centre-BAK, Przemysław Płacheta replaces Adam Idah, Lukas Rupp replaces Pierre Lees-Melou, and Joshua Sargent replaces Ben Gibson. Norwich have also changed from a five-at-the-back shape to a more recognisible 4-3-3 formation. As for changes to the subs bench, Jonathan Tomkinson replaces Tzolis, and Sam Byram returns after 18 months out due to a ligament injury, replacing Kabak’s position on the bench last week.
Now on to the lineup chosen by Rangnick for Manchester United:
No starting eleven changes made by Rangnick this evening from the team that beat Crystal Palace last Saturday. However, there are two changes made to the subs bench, as Tom Heaton and Jesse Lingard come in for Nemanja Matic and Wan-Bissaka.
The teams are now walking out here at Carrow Road, we’re just moments away from kick-off! Can Norwich pull off a huge shock? Or will United do the inevitable and gain all three points? We’re now about to find out.
MIN 1 -Darren England blows his whistle, Norwich City kick off, and we’re underway here at Carrow Road for the fifth and final Premier League fixture of the day.
MIN 4 – Slight lack of concentration there from Scott McTominay. He looks to play it back to David De Gea, but the Spanish ‘keeper isn’t expecting it, and only just keeps it in play.
MIN 8 – Quite a cagey affair in the early stages, not very much happening in the penalty areas, but both sides giving away plenty of free kicks. Another set-piece for Norwich and this time Joshua Sargent is on the receiving end of a clumsy challenge by Diogo Dalot.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 12 – Very quiet start by United. They’re yet to register a shot on goal. Rangnick will not be impressed.
MIN 13 – Grant Hanley fouls Marcus Rashford from behind and United now have a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Telles and Bruno Fernandes are eyeing it up…
MIN 14 – Telles almost sneaks it in! It takes a deflection off the wall, Tim Krul gets his fingertips to it, and it comes back off the crossbar.
MIN 20 – Dean Smith is forced into making an early change, and it’s one no Norwich fan will want to see. Grant Hanley makes way for Jacob Lungi Sorenson. Yet another huge injury blow for the Canaries. The captain’s armband is handed to Krul.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 29 – Przemysław Płacheta does very well to find Lukas Rupp in the 18-yard box, he finds Teemu Pukki but the Finnish striker can’t get the ball out from under his feet.
MIN 37 – Best chance of the game so far. Ronaldo sends Kabak and Dimitris Giannoulis for a meal deal, shifts the ball onto his left foot, but Krul is level to it and firmly pushes it away with a good diving save.
MIN 40 – Now Norwich get themselves a good chance. End-to-end stuff here. Giannoulis delivers a fantastic cross from the left-hand side, Rupp gets his head to it, but it was never troubling De Gea who claims it comfortably.
MIN 45 + 1 – What a fine save by Krul! Harry Maguire connects with a looping header, and Krul is at full stretch to palm the effort over the crossbar. The Dutch ‘keeper is having a very good game so far.
Goalless at the break here at Carrow Road, and safe to say, it hasn’t been the most entertaining affair. Manchester United have definitely had the better chances so far.
Dean Smith will be extremely pleased with how his side have performed so far. Norwich have looked very solid at the back, but aren’t transitioning defence into Kabak, sorry I meant attack. It’s just too easy! If Norwich can keep up the pace and create some more chances, they could just sneak a win here.
The team’s are now back out, and we’re ready to begin this second half at Carrow Road. Will either side grab a winner?
MIN 46 – Darren England blows the whistle, and Manchester United get us back underway for this second half.
MIN 47 – First chance of the half and it falls for Norwich. Placheta gets the shot away from the right hand side of the six-yard box after a nice one-two with Max Aarons but his low driven effort is calmly saved by De Gea at the near post.
MIN 53 – Another worrying sign for Norwich. Giannoulis collides with McTominay and is in obvious discomfort. He looks alright to continue though.
MIN 56 – What a challenge by Kabak! Marcus Rashford is played through one-on-one, and the Turkish international pulls off a sublime sliding tackle. However, the flag does go up, as Rashford was offside.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 57 – So close for Norwich. Pukki fires a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and De Gea flicks it over the bar and the Canaries have a corner. They’re certainly starting to grow into this.
MIN 61 – Norwich have got themselves four corners in the space of a minute. Is a goal coming their way?
MIN 62 – Rashford looks to catch out Krul at the near post, but his effort just skims wide.
MIN 67 – First change of the game and it’s for United. Jadon Sancho makes way for Mason Greenwood. I can’t lie, I completely forgot Sancho was even on the pitch.
MIN 70 – Now Norwich make their first change. Todd Cantwell comes on for Placheta.
MIN 72 – PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED! What on earth was Aarons thinking? Ronaldo is brought down in the box by the young right-back off the ball following a Fernandes cross from the right and Darren England points to the spot with no hesitation.
ABSOLUTELY NO MISTAKE FROM THE SPOT! Was there ever any doubt? He fires it low and hard into the bottom left corner, and sends Krul the wrong way. United now just need to hold on for all three points.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 76 – Second change for United as Victor Lindelof makes way for Eric Bailly due to injury. Norwich also make their second change, as Rupp makes way for Pierre Lees-Melou.
MIN 77 – DE GEA WITH A WORLD-CLASS SAVE! Kabak rises highest from Billy Gilmour’s free-kick and heads his effort downwards. De Gea superbly gets level to it to flick it away.
MIN 82 – Fantastic block from Bailly. De Gea will be thanking his lucky stars for that. Somehow he gets in the way of Gilmour’s effort and denies Norwich an equalizer.
MIN 87 – WHAT A SITTER! HOW HAS RONALDO MISSED FROM THERE? Rashford paces down the left-hand side from his own half, pulls it across to Ronaldo, who fires over the bar from about five yards out. Not so easy when it isn’t a penalty!
MIN 88 – Last change for United by Ralf Rangnick. Donny Van de Beek comes on for Fernandes.
MIN 90 – Five minutes of added time here at Carrow Road. Can Norwich nick a point?
There we have it! Manchester United now have back-to-back wins in the Premier League, but Norwich City gave them a fantastic game, and deserved at least a point for that second half performance. Ronaldo’s 73rd minute penalty made the difference in a hard-fought win for the Red Devils.
I’ve been Freddie Humphry-Wakefield, and I’ll see you next time! Goodnight!
