Norwich 3 Man City 2: Champions stunned as Pep’s men lose for first time in NINE months and five points behind Liverpool in title race
NORWICH produced one of the biggest shocks in recent Premier League history – and dropped a spectacular hand-grenade on Manchester City’s title dreams. The Prem newboys, missing half of their first team through injury, were not supposed to upset the formbook like this. Yet they courageously battered the Champions into submission – leaving punters in […]
NORWICH produced one of the biggest shocks in recent Premier League history – and dropped a spectacular hand-grenade on Manchester City’s title dreams.
The Prem newboys, missing half of their first team through injury, were not supposed to upset the formbook like this.
Yet they courageously battered the Champions into submission – leaving punters in Norfolk and Merseyside in dreamland and Pep Guardiola one frustrated viewer.
It also left shell-shocked City, particularly the irate Kyle Walker, arguing among themselves, devastated by the comic, schoolboy defending involving John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, that gifted the Canaries this momentous victory.
Okay so it might only be mid-September but unstoppable Liverpool lead by five points – and considering that last season’s championship was decided by one point, this could prove to be one hell of a costly loss.
Within the City boardroom, there are genuine worries about the fitness of the players long-term as they embark on four competition fronts.
They might be the richest club in the world but City find themselves in a remarkably perilous position now that the transfer window has slammed shut.
The long-term injury to Aymeric Laporte – the Frenchman is out for up to six months with a serious knee injury – has left Guardiola’s defensive troops are down to the bare bones.
Stones, back from a thigh issue, started alongside Otamendi but those two are the last centre-backs standing with the ranks.
Essentially City cannot afford any further medical disruptions until January.
Farke can certainly sympathise with Guardiola’s treatment room plight.
The German has had several conversations with his medical staff in recent weeks and he is currently without seven players through injury – while the creative Patrick Roberts was ineligible due to the terms of his City loan move.
The pragmatic Farke has described trying to avoid Prem relegation like “climbing Mount Everest without the tools”.
However, to his credit, Farke said his players would refuse to “park the bus”, knowing that would be suicide against probably the best attacking unit in world football.
Refreshingly, despite the calibre of opposition they were facing, Norwich were not afraid to knock it about when in possession and stuck religiously to their principles.
And against all the odds, Norwich took the lead on 18 minutes thanks to a well-drilled corner.
Emiliano Buendia delivered the pinpoint cross from the right and the alert Kenny McLean raced clear of nearest markers Raheem Sterling and Rodri to head home past Ederson at the near post.
Ten minutes later and the lead was doubled. After a Sergio Aguero header from a tight angle blazed over, Krul launched the ball forwards.
Teemu Pukki steamed forward, played onside by Stones, and found local lad Todd Cantwell in space to score the simplest of tap-ins. Walker vented his frustrations but it was all wasted breathe.
Norwich thought they would be awarded a first-half penalty when Stones handled in the penalty area but a quick VAR check decided he did not have his hands in an unnatural position.
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Writing off City is never a sensible option, of course. The Sterling header which crashed off the post was a reminder of how dangerous they are.
And to underline their prowess, the headed goal from Aguero, his seventh of the season, reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time and gave City a boost.
Ironically, the last time City came from 2-0 down to win in the league was here in February 2005 – the scene of Delia Smith’s famous “Let’s be havin’ you” rant.
Yet it was Guardiola who was losing his voice and deploring his team to show more fight – and more awareness.
In laughable scenes that would make schoolboys blush, £47.5m man Stones was far too causal in possession – especially for an England international star.
He played a hospital pass to Otamendi, who was not concentrating and it was too easy for Buendia to nick the ball from his feet.
Pukki, in such a rich vein of form, slotted home from close range. The Finn is the first player to score in each of Norwich’s first three home games in a top-flight season since Justin Fashanu in 1980.
With his players arguing, notably Walker and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Guardiola desperately rolled the dice, bringing on Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus on 57 minutes.
City had their chances to snatch a point. Aguero went close twice – one header flew over, another was brilliantly palmed for a corner by Krul.
And Spaniard Rodri fired home from outside the box, his first goal for City, to force a nervous finale.
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Yet City’s luck eventually ran out, ending a run of nine straight away league wins.
Not surprisingly, Carrow Road was bouncing all night as their heroes celebrated.
Krul was magnificent. Ibrahim Amadou on his first Prem start, in the unnatural position of defence, and Sam Byram were also impressive.
It was a triumph of spirit, endeavour and hard-work, one that could galvanise their season.
For Guardiola and City, with Liverpool in irresistible form, it was the stuff of nightmares.