Why Sergio Aguero will run riot against Norwich City

Manchester City — Norwich City

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013

Venue: Etihad Stadium

KO: 3pm

Manchester City will look to make it five home wins from as many matches this season when they welcome Norwich City to the Etihad this weekend, and if successful, they could increase the growing pressure on Norwich manager Chris Hughton. The Canaries are currently lagging inside the relegation zone and have struggled away from home this seaosn, and the journey to the Etihad isn’t exactly one that many will have been looking forward to making this season.

Team News:

Manchester City

Only two injuries for Manchester City to note this weekend, but both come with a bit of weight behind them. Inspirational leader Vincent Kompany (thigh) is still training alone and unlikely to be ready for this fixture while Stevan Jovetic picked up a groin injury against Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup during the week and won’t be available.

Norwich City

Star striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel is in some doubt for this fixture after picking up an ankle injury previously, but he is expected to take the field this weekend. However, the same cannot be said for Robert Snodgrass (head), Alexander Tettey (ankle) and Elliott Bennett (knee), who are all expected to miss this fixture against the 2012 league champions.

Recent Form

City come into this fixture with some slightly shaky form (winning just three of their last six games), but have been ultra-impressive at home—as mentioned above.

At the Etihad, they are yet to drop a point all season and have conceded just two goals as well, which is certainly an imposing sight for the Canaries to come up against. Norwich have scored just two goals away from Carrow Road this season and have lost three of their four road games so far this year.

Players to Watch:

Manchester City: Sergio Aguero

Having scored in his last four Premier League games, Sergio Aguero is in great form heading into this weekend and looms as the biggest threat for Norwich’s defence.

The 25-year-old has scored seven goals and created 12 goalscoring chances, with his clinical finishing ranking him as one of most effective strikers in the league this year. He’ll be looking to improve on his incredibly solid 35% chance conversion rate this weekend.

Sergio Aguero Goals Scored

Norwich City: Leroy Fer

One of the few bright sparks for Norwich this season has been summer signing Leroy Fer, and the Canaries will be looking to him here to produce a big performance this weekend.

Fer has proven to be devastating player with the ball at his feet this year—completing 17 of his 22 attempted take-ons—but has also shown great prowess in defence with just four unsuccessful tackles all season. If the Canaries are to produce anything against City in this one, they’re going to need him to step up this weekend.

Prediction:

Question marks still exist around Manuel Pellegrini’s team and they’re by no means the Premier League favourites that many thought they would be by this stage of the season, but they will be far too strong for Norwich here. The Citizens are just at another level above their opponents, and with the likes of Aguero and Alvaro Negredo in red-hot form, should run away with this one and improve their goal-difference substantially in the end.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-1 Norwich City