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Preview: Norwich City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Norwich City will be looking to make it three Premier League victories in a row when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Canaries have moved off the bottom of the table with back-to-back wins, while Wolves have risen into sixth position courtesy of an impressive run of form in England's top flight.


Match preview

Norwich City manager Dean Smith reacts, November 20, 2021© Reuters

Norwich looked down and out when they lost 2-1 at home to Leeds United at the end of October, but Daniel Farke managed to deliver a 2-1 victory away to Brentford on November 6 before losing his job as manager.

Former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith came in as Farke's replacement, and the 50-year-old guided the Canaries to a 2-1 success at home to Southampton last weekend, with Grant Hanley's 79th-minute effort proving to be the winning goal at Carrow Road.

The back-to-back wins have lifted Norwich off the bottom of the table, and they could potentially go level on points with 17th-placed Leeds United with another victory this weekend.

There is no getting away from the fact that the promoted club still face a serious battle to secure another season at this level, but a win over Wolves would mean that confidence would be incredibly high heading into the trip to basement side Newcastle United on November 30.

Norwich lost both Premier League games against Wolves during the 2019-20 season, though, while they have not overcome Saturday's opponents in England's top flight since March 2012.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Conor Coady celebrates scoring their second goal with Ruben Neves on October 16, 2021© Reuters

Wolves will also be full of confidence heading into this weekend's contest, having recorded a huge 1-0 victory over top-four hopefuls West Ham United on Saturday courtesy of a second-half effort from Raul Jimenez.

The West Midlands club struggled for results in the early stages of the season, losing four of their first five Premier League games, which brought some early pressure on new head coach Bruno Lage.

However, Wolves have now won five of their last seven in the league, losing just once, and the impressive run of form has seen them rise into sixth position in the table.

Lage's team are above the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United and sit just four points behind fourth-placed West Ham, which is incredible considering their early-season problems.

Wolves ran out 2-1 winners when they last travelled to Carrow Road in the Premier League in December 2019, while they recorded a 3-0 victory when the two teams last met - at Molineux - in February 2020.

Norwich City Premier League form:
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W



Team News

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Adama Traore in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, August 14, 2021© Reuters

Norwich will again be without the services of Christoph Zimmermann through injury, while Ozan Kabak and Sam Byram are unlikely to be involved for the Canaries.

Smith brought Todd Cantwell back into the team against Southampton last time out, but the attacker struggled to get going in the first half and could lose his spot in the XI to Joshua Sargent.

It is otherwise likely to be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against the Saints, with on-loan Manchester United defender Brandon Williams and on-loan Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour both starting.

As for Wolves, Pedro Neto, Hugo Bueno, Jonny Castro and Yerson Mosquera remain unavailable for selection, while Willy Boly has also been ruled out with a muscular problem.

Fit-again Fernando Marcal was back on the bench against West Ham, but Lage will be tempted to select the same XI that started the 1-0 success over the Hammers.

As a result, Adama Traore might have to again accept a spot on the bench, with Daniel Podence likely to retain his spot alongside Jimenez and Hwang Hee-chan in the final third of the field.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams; Gilmour, Normann, McLean; Sargent, Pukki, Rashica

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Kilman, Coady, Saiss; Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Ait-Nouri; Podence, Jimenez, Hee-Chan


SM words green background

We say: Norwich City 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Norwich have a new-found confidence after back-to-back wins, but Wolves have been so impressive in recent weeks, and we are finding it difficult to back anything other than an away success, with the visitors certainly a team to watch when it comes to a potential top-four challenge.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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How you voted: Norwich vs Wolves

Norwich City
15.5%
Draw
17.0%
Wolverhampton Wanderers
67.5%
206
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Norwich City's Billy Gilmour acknowledges the fans after the match, October 2, 2021
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rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1511223292335
2Liverpool15104144123234
3Chelsea1510323592633
4West Ham UnitedWest Ham158342819927
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs148151617-125
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd157352524124
7Arsenal157261822-423
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves156361213-121
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton154831416-220
10Aston Villa156182124-319
11Leicester CityLeicester155462327-419
12Everton155371925-618
13Brentford154561921-217
14Crystal Palace153751921-216
15Leeds UnitedLeeds153751522-716
16Southampton153751421-716
17Watford1541102029-913
18Burnley141761421-710
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle151771730-1310
20Norwich CityNorwich15249831-2310

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