Ronaldo in action at Carrow Road in December.

How to follow United v Norwich

Wednesday 13 April 2022 07:00

Manchester United host bottom-of-the-table Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.

It’s not been the best start to the month for the Reds and three points really are required if we are to keep the push for Champions League qualification alive, ahead of trips to Liverpool and Arsenal next week.

The visitors are still fighting for survival but will be confident after a key result last weekend and clean sheets in each of their last two outings.

Also, their manager Dean Smith has already tasted victory at Old Trafford this season, with a different team.

Find out more in our extensive match preview…

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How will the Reds react?

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HOW TO FOLLOW

Saturday’s game will not be broadcast live on television in the UK, as it kicks off at 15:00 BST. However, you can follow our matchday coverage as always, with ManUtd.com and the Manchester United App offering live updates, in-game data and expert insight.

MUTV will have live radio commentary for you, along with pre-match build-up - including team arrivals - from 13:55 BST and all the reaction from Old Trafford after the final whistle.

MATCH PROGRAMME

United Review will be on sale at the stadium, and you can also order copies online from manutd.com/programme.

TEAM NEWS

United will once again be without Luke Shaw and Edinson Cavani, while fans await news on the fitness of Raphael Varane and Scott McTominay, who missed the trip to Goodison Park through injury. In-form midfielder Fred was substituted during the first half on Merseyside due to ‘muscular problems on his hip flexor’, according to Ralf Rangnick. Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a gash to the shin but completed the full 90 minutes against the Toffees.

Brandon Williams has featured in 24 of Norwich’s 31 Premier League games, but is ineligible for this one against his parent club due to Premier League rules surrounding loans. Adam Idah (knee) and Ozan Kabak (thigh) will be absent too as both have been ruled out for the remainder of the Canaries’ season. Billy Gilmour (virus) and Josh Sargent (ankle) were unavailable for Norwich’s victory against Burnley on Sunday, although Max Aarons and Lukas Rupp took their places on the bench after recent issues.

Fred suffers injury at Everton

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Our Brazilian midfielder was forced off in the first half and Ralf Rangnick has explained what the problem is.

FORM GUIDE

United will be looking for a first win of April, given the disappointing defeat at Everton followed a 1-1 draw with Leicester City in our last Old Trafford outing. Three points would lift us above West Ham and into sixth in the Premier League – at least until the Hammers host Burnley on Sunday – while we could also close the gap on Tottenham (fourth) and Arsenal (fifth) depending on how the north London sides fare this Saturday; Spurs play Brighton at home while the Gunners visit Southampton.

Norwich’s 2-0 win over Burnley was their first top-flight victory since January and kept them seven points behind Everton, who occupy 17th spot in the table. The Canaries, who have taken just nine points from their 15 Premier League away games this campaign, matched their 2019/20 points tally of 21 by beating the Clarets but, barring a late-season miracle, look likely to experience a fourth relegation to the Championship in nine years.

RECENT MEETINGS

The Reds ran out 1-0 winners at Carrow Road in the reverse fixture back in December, with Ronaldo’s 75th-minute penalty – awarded for a foul on the Portuguese forward – proving enough to settle a tight encounter. The Canaries’ last visit to Old Trafford, back in January 2020 prior to their relegation to the Championship, finished 4-0 to the home side, with Marcus Rashford scoring twice.

Highlights: Norwich 0 United 1 Video

Highlights: Norwich 0 United 1

Watch Ronaldo's emphatic penalty and De Gea's string of brilliant saves in our 1-0 away victory...

KEY STATS

United have won 12 of our last 15 Premier League games against Norwich, including each of the last four.

The Canaries have won just one of their last 12 away games against the Reds in all competitions - a 2-1 Premier League victory in December 2015.

Norwich manager Dean Smith won 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season with Aston Villa. This will be the eighth time a manager has taken charge of two different clubs away at United in the same top-flight campaign, with none of the previous seven managing to win both visits.

Courtesy of Opta.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Andy Madley
Assistants: Simon Beck, Adrian Holmes
Fourth official: Jonathan Moss
VAR: Mike Dean
Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger

Goal of the Day: Rooney v Norwich Video

Goal of the Day: Rooney v Norwich

Norwich come to Old Trafford this weekend, so let’s revisit Wayne Rooney’s goal against the Canaries from 2014…

RIVALS WATCH

There are only six Premier League games this weekend, as the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals are also taking place. Manchester City play Liverpool on Saturday, with Crystal Palace facing Chelsea the following day – both of these games are at Wembley.

Aston Villa, Everton, Leeds and Wolves do not have fixtures this weekend.

SATURDAY 16 APRIL

Tottenham v Brighton (12:30 BST)
UNITED v Norwich
Southampton v Arsenal
Watford v Brentford

SUNDAY 17 APRIL

Newcastle v Leicester (14:15 BST)
West Ham v Burnley (14:15 BST)

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

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