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Preview: Newcastle look to avoid second loss to Norwich City

By Durim Halimi

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: General view inside the stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on January 01, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: General view inside the stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on January 01, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /
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Newcastle United will be back in Premier League action tomorrow when they host Norwich City at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle United are the favorites to win against Norwich City, but the game is expected to be a close battle. The Magpies need three points to break into the top ten while the Canaries desperately need three points as they are the only team in the top flight with less than 20 points.

Where They Stand

  • Newcastle United: 14th, 30 points
  • Norwich City: 20th, 17 points

Analysis

Newcastle United have a great opportunity to claim three points, climb the table and move within seven points of the magic number, 40 points, with four months remaining in the season. The Magpies have enjoyed good form at St. James’ Park this season having only been defeated at home twice, but Norwich City are capable of causing an upset on Tyneside.

The last meeting between these two teams ended 3-1 in favor of Norwich City. Teemu Pukki scored a hat-trick in that game, which was the Canaries’ first home game in the Premier League since 2015 and the atmosphere caused major problems for Steve Bruce’s men.

https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1222864848616349696?s=20

The venue and the narratives of both clubs are different this time around, but Norwich City’s desperation is expected to translate to urgency on the pitch. Jamaal Lascelles and company will have to stay alert and compact for 90 minutes, especially when Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell have the ball in the final third of the pitch.

Newcastle United will need to be creative offensively if they want to claim three precious points at home. Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin must orchestrate the majority of the Magpies’ attacks. It will be a long afternoon for the home side if their star players fail to receive sufficient passes out wide.

It will be interesting to see how many new loanees Bruce will play in this game. The arrival of Valentino Lazaro, Nabil Bentaleb and Danny Rose has certainly added more quality in this squad and they are all eager to make an immediate impact. Based on their time training with the squad, one can assume that Lazaro and Bentaleb have a good shot at starting. Rose has the talent and fitness to start since he has been training with Tottenham, but it remains to be seen how Bruce plans to approach this clash.

Related Story. Proposed lineup vs. Norwich City. light

Predictions

Carson and I are both feeling confident for tomorrow’s game. We both expect Norwich City to put up a good fight, but Newcastle United should get the job done at home in front of the Toon Army.

  • Carson A. Merk: Newcastle United 2-1 Norwich City
  • Durim Halimi: Newcastle United 2-0 Norwich City