Norwich v Chelsea: Premier League predictions, free tips, team news & stats

Premier League
BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Something approaching hysteria is engulfing Norfolk after their beloved Canaries ran riot against one of the most pitiful Newcastle sides in recent memory, but Chelsea can provide a Premier League reality check at Carrow Road.

Norwich fans were understandably delirious following their 3-0 battering of the Magpies, which saw Teemu Pukki shoot to the top of the scoring charts courtesy of his hat-trick.

Daniel Farke had promised his side would carry on where they left on in winning the Championship and he’s been true to his word – they have scored four goals in two games and conceded five.

It won’t be dull watching Norwich and the visit from a Chelsea side whose manager Frank Lampard is every bit as positive in his thinking as Farke should provide a decent dose of entertainment.

But the bet still has to be Chelsea. Two weeks ago they would have been 4-6 and shorter yet surely two weeks isn’t long enough to be suggesting the gap between these sides has narrowed that much.

It has been a tough start to the season for the Blues as they seek to reorganise with a new manager and without Eden Hazard, a talent who is pretty much irreplaceable.

Games against Manchester United and Leicester either side of a thankless trip to Istanbul to take on Liverpool would test out any team. That they have come through it with just a solitary point to show for their efforts is disappointing but they have looked in control for periods against both United and Leicester before defensive errors did for them at Old Trafford.

Against Leicester they were simply undone at a set-play though the pace and movement of Leicester on the counter worried them.

Another week on and Chelsea should be getting to grips with Lampard’s new approach and ideas and an improvement looks inevitable.

The first half against Leicester was excellent with a level of control that they have to replicate and if they do there is no reason why they can’t do to Norwich what Liverpool did at Anfield on the opening Friday night of term. That match ended 4-1 and City looked a shambles defensively.

Yes, they followed up with an improved defensive display against Newcastle but you can’t fairly compare Newcastle to many Premier League sides and certainly not one as good as Liverpool. Or Chelsea for that matter.

There should be goals and the last time Lampard took a side to Carrow Road there were seven. Indeed, Derby, then overseen by Super Frank, are the last side to win in Norwich in a 4-3 December triumph.

There is bags of pace in the Norwich ranks to scare any defence. Pukki – around 11-2 in first-scorer betting – looks right at home in the top flight and they have an unsung midfield pairing in Tom Trybull and Mo Leitner, who won’t be obviously upstaged by the unit led by the magnificent Ngolo Kante.

Chelsea are likely to dictate the tempo and create chances. They are still a decent side and are arguably being underrated.

Recommendation
Chelsea
2pts 5-6 Betfred, Betway

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Norwich
Winger Onel Hernandez is out with a knee injury. Ibrahim Amadou, Josip Drmic and Timm Klose are in contention though Christoph Zimmerman is a major doubt.

Chelsea
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are still sidelined. Antonio Rudiger is hoping for a first appearance in four months.

Key stat
Chelsea have scored one goal in their last four Premier League away games.

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