Norwich City vs Stoke City
Venue: Carrow Road
Kick off: 3pm
Stoke City’s record signing, Xherdan Shaqiri, is set to make his debut for the club in the match at Carrow Road after he served his one-match ban following his sending-off in a Coppa Italia game last season.
The Switzerland international will bolster Mark Hughes’s men’s attacking prowess in the final third to add further goals to a team that notched almost be looking to kick on from their first win of the season last week when they play Stoke City at Carrow Road.
On the other hand, the hosts, Norwich City, produced a fine display to beat Sunderland 3-1, while the Potters registered their first point of the campaign with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Alex Neil’s men notched their first win of the Premier League season against the Black Cats as they hammered them 3-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond all got on the scoresheet to fire the Canaries to victory, earning three vital points over a potential rival at the bottom of the table.
Redmond continued his good start to the season with his second goal of the campaign following his strike against Crystal Palace on the opening day, and Neil will be hopeful that the England Under-21 international can kick on to be a key contributor for his team in the top flight.
Norwich played with freedom against Sunderland and proved to be solid at the back, which will have pleased Neil after their defeat to Palace where they were cut open by Alan Pardew’s men, despite putting in a promising display at Carrow Road.
The Canaries will be determined to cash in on matches against teams expected to be in and around them in the table to pick up valuable points in their quest to remain in the division.
Their home form last season could have cost them an automatic promotion place, and Neil will be hopeful that his side can begin to repeat their form from on the road at Carrow Road, as the Scot has never tasted defeat in an away game during his tenure at the club.
Defensively the 34-year-old will want his side to perform a shutout sooner rather than later to build their confidence at the back, but their abilities will be tested by the Potters’ potent attack in their showdown today.
Hughes’s men secured their first point of the season courtesy of a late comeback in their clash against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
Marko Arnautovic and Mame Biram Diouf fired late goals to bring the Potters from 2-0 down to secure a 2-2 draw, much to the delight of their manager.
Stoke were cut open at the back by Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the first half at the Lane, but displayed resilience after the break to earn their first point of the campaign.
The Potters appear to be missing the reassuring presence of captain Ryan Shawcross, who is out for two months with a back problem, as Geoff Cameron and Marc Muniesa struggled at times during the clash against Spurs.
Norwich possible starting lineup: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Dorrans, Howson; Hoolahan; Jerome.
Stoke possible starting lineup: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Van Ginkel, Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic; Diouf.
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