13 December 2021, 13:47 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Canaries will be back early this week on Premier League Matchday 17 to take on the Lions following the 1-0 defeat to the Red Devils. Norwich City vs. Aston Villa kicks off at 20:45 GMT+1 on Tuesday, December 14, at Carrow Road.
Preview Norwich City Premier League, Dec 14, 2021
Preview Dean Smith was hoping his side would see off a draw against Manchester United, but a dubious penalty created and converted by none other than Cristiano Ronaldo (75’ P.) left him heartbroken. I've seen the penalty back and does he make contact with him in the box? Yes. Dean Smith said in his post-match press conference. Does he have his arm up? Yes. But I can show you five or six different challenges in the game, whether they're inside or outside the box, that weren't given. We're after consistency, and there's no consistency there. I just felt like it was too easy for Manchester United to referee the game today. You can't have players refereeing the game. It's a soft penalty, but there were soft moments throughout the game when he didn't give them, so it has to be consistent. The new Norwich boss added, reiterating the inconsistency which plagued the game. The defeat leaves Norwich with back-to-back losses: WDDLL, and at the bottom of the table, with 2W, 4D, and 10L. The 4—3—3 formation with Pukki at the focal point of the attacking trio is expected to remain in place on Tuesday. Grant Hanley picked up a shoulder injury after an awkward fall in the game against Manchester United and joined Norwich’s lengthy injury list.
Preview Aston Villa Premier League, Dec 14, 2021
Preview Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard’s return to Anfield ended in a bitter reunion, having seen Aston Villa pick up a 1-0 defeat to the Reds. On the back foot from the get-go, the Lions failed to find a single shot on target throughout the length of the ninety. Considering the arsenal at the disposal of his boyhood club, the ex-Liverpool midfielder was hoping Villa’s resilient defending would see him run away with a point. With the stalemate intact at the end of the first forty-five, all was going according to plan for Stevie, until a clumsy challenge from Tyrone Mings on Mohamed Salah gave away a penalty. The Egyptian stepped forward for the only goal of the game, through the 67th-minute penalty. The plan was to stay in the game for as long as we could. Steven Gerrard said in his post-match press conference. The penalty changed that. I thought we were unfortunate, he added. The defeat saw Aston Villa drop from 10th to 13th place on the Premier League table, having failed to pick up a point. Villa has 19 points from 6W, 1D, and 9L, and a form that reads: WWLWL. The Claret & Blue Army could stick with the 4—3—3, leaving Ollie Watkins in the middle of the attacking trio once again.