Visionhaus/Getty Images. Pictured: Manchester City standout Riyad Mahrez.
Manchester City vs. Norwich City Odds
| Man City Odds | -1000 |
| Norwich City Odds | +2200 |
| Draw | +1000 |
| Over/Under | 3.5 (-120 / -105) |
| Day | Time | Saturday | 10 a.m. ET |
| How To Watch | NBCSN | fuboTV |
| Odds updated Friday morning via DraftKings. | |
Things could get pretty out of hand Saturday when Manchester City welcomes Norwich City to Etihad Stadium for a match on the busy Premier League card.
The Cityzens, who enter this affair as massive favorites, will be looking for their first win of the season after suffering a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on opening weekend in England’s top flight. Obviously, it was a lackluster effort from the reigning league champion, who stormed to the title last season.
On the other side, the Canaries we greeted with a rude “welcome back” to the first division in their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool at Carrow Road. Three different Reds, including Mohamed Salah, scored against Norwich, who were promoted after winning the Championship in its previous campaign.
This match really has the makings of being a very one-sided affair, so let’s see what might be on deck.
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Manchester City Looking to Hammer Visiting Side
Manager Pep Guardiola and his side put in a subpar effort on debut against Tottenham, which was kind of shocking to see from the league champions. The Cityzens couldn’t get anything going that caused the host fits, despite the fact they dominated the statistical categories.
Manchester City held a 1.9-1.3 edge in expected goals at game’s end, according to fbref.com. The powerhouse also dominated possession of the ball by a 64-36% margin.
And when it came to shots, Manchester City peppered Tottenham with 18 attempts. However, the Cityzens’ accuracy left much to be desired, as just four of those shots wound up on goal.
Defensively, Guardiola’s side conceded an abnormally high 14 shots, but only two of them were on goal. Unfortunately for the Cityzens, one found the back of the net via Son Heung-min’s game-winner in the 55th minute of play.
Now, Manchester City gets the opportunity to take its early frustrations out on a side it has utterly dominated of late. The club has won five of its last six home contests against Norwich City, which suffered a 5-0 loss the last time these sides met on Etihad soil.
I fully expect Guardiola to send his team out in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, with the hope it can strike early and often against an opponent that has lost its last 11 league matches.
Rough Premier League Return for Norwich City
Needless to say, the Canaries didn’t put together the kind of performance they were hoping for in their return to the first division. They were just outclassed by a Liverpool side playing with a major chip on its shoulder as it looks to reclaim the league crown this season.
Norwich City held its own early before Diogo Jota bagged the game’s opening goal in the 26th minute, giving the Reds a 1-0 lead at the break. The floodgates opened midway through the second half when Salah and Roberto Firmino scored goals with nine minutes of each other, helping Liverpool secure all three points.
When it came to the advanced metrics, Norwich City held its own against the deeper, more talented Liverpool outfit. The Canaries, who were beaten by a 2.0-1.4 difference in the xG category, found some chances at goals.
They were only outshot by a 19-15 margin, which included a 6-4 advantage to the Reds in shots on goal. The possession battle was practically even, with Liverpool holding a 51-49% edge, per fbref.com.
Norwich City is led by Finnish striker Teemu Pukki, who will need some help from fellow attacking player Todd Cantwell if the club is going to crack one of the best defenses on the planet.
Betting Analysis & Pick
This could be another lopsided score for the Canaries, who are really up against it facing a club that is going to come at them full throttle from the opening whistle.
Manchester City is just better, deeper and more talented than Norwich City, which I believe will translate into a rout. Making things even less fun is the fact the visitors are stuck facing an opponent that’s going to enjoy taking out its frustrations following that loss to Spurs- to open its campaign.
That said, I’m backing Manchester City on the Asian Handicap spread line of -2.25 at -135 odds via DraftKings as my top selection. The Cityzens have scored at least two goals in nine of their last 11 games against the Canaries across all competitions, giving me even more confidence in this wager.
If you’re looking for a good prop play, take a shot on the second half featuring the most goals at +100 odds. I fully expect Norwich City to run out of gas after dealing with the relentless Manchester City attack living in its defensive third early on. That should open things up for the Cityzens in the final 45 minutes, leading them to the comfortable victory.
Pick: Manchester City -2.25 (-135) | Highest Scoring Half — Second (+100)
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