England - Premier League
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Played
December 26, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Carrow Road — Norwich, Norfolk
Referee:‬ J. Moss‎
Attendance:‬ 26831‎
 
 
Juan Mata 38′

Norwich City - Chelsea Preview: Canaries looking to end 18-year wait for victory over Blues

Chris Hughton's men suffered defeat for the first time in 11 games and will hope to avenge a 4-1 loss earlier in the season against the rampant west London club

By Ewan Roberts

More On :  Chelsea FC, Norwich City, Norwich City vs Chelsea FC
EPL - Chelsea v Norwich City, Fernando Torres, Javier Garrido and Leon Barnett
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS

NORWICH

Bunn
Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido
Snodgrass, Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington
Hoolahan
Holt
CHELSEA

Cech
Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole
Luiz, Ramires
Moses, Mata, Hazard
Torres

Talismanic striker Grant Holt (hamstring) missed Norwich’s defeat against West Brom, but manager Chris Hughton hopes to have him available for Wednesday’s game.

Steven Whittaker (thigh) was withdrawn before the hour mark against the Baggies, so Russell Martin is likely to fill in at right-back.

Norwich are also without Andrew Surman (knee) and John Ruddy (thigh), with Mark Bunn continuing in goal in the latter’s absence. Ryan Bennett (knee) and Harry Kane (ankle) are both doubtful.

Rafa Benitez’s squad is largely injury-free, though he will likely reshuffle his starting XI to combat a busy festive programme.

Liverpool-bound striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) is a doubt, but John Obi Mikel has returned from a three-match suspension though may be benched in favour of the impressive David Luiz.

John Terry and Oriol Romeu (both knee) remain sidelined, while Ryan Betrand picked up a knock against Leeds in the Capital One Cup and is therefore a doubt for the Boxing Day clash.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Norwich lost their first match in 11 games against West Brom on Saturday, ending their longest sequence without defeat in the top-flight since March 1987.
  • Only the two Manchester clubs, United (11) and City (10), have scored more goal from set-pieces than Norwich (9).
  • Grant Holt has committed 44 fouls this season, the joint most in the league, while only one player, Everton’s Nikica Jelavic (29), has been caught offside more times than Holt (24).
  • The Canaries have scored three goals from direct free-kicks, the joint-most in the league alongside Chelsea.
  • Norwich have not beaten the Blues since 10 December 1994; in the five meetings between the two sides since then, the Blues have averaged 2.8 goals per game.
  • Chelsea’s 8-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, which equalled their highest ever league win, was only their second victory in their last nine league games.
  • Branislav Ivanovic (pictured right) is the Premier League’s topscoring defender, with four goals this season (making him the Blues’ joint-third highest scorer in the league).
  • Chelsea have received more yellow cards for diving (4) than any other team in the Premier League.
  • The Blues have scored from the penalty spot five times this season, the most in the league, while Norwich are yet to be awarded a spot-kick.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Norwich City 1-3 Chelsea FC
    14.14 %
  • Norwich City 0-3 Chelsea FC
    12.07 %
  • Norwich City 0-8 Chelsea FC
    10.56 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 26, 2012 Norwich City 0 - Chelsea FC 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Oct 6, 2012 Chelsea FC 4 - Norwich City 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Jan 21, 2012 Norwich City 0 - Chelsea FC 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Aug 27, 2011 Chelsea FC 3 - Norwich City 1
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Last Five Matches
Norwich City
May 19, 2013Manchester City FC 2 - Norwich City 3EPL
May 12, 2013Norwich City 4 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
May 4, 2013Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2EPL
Apr 27, 2013Stoke 1 - Norwich City 0EPL
Apr 20, 2013Norwich City 2 - Reading 1EPL
Chelsea FC
May 19, 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Everton 1EPL
May 15, 2013Benfica 1 - Chelsea FC 2EL
May 11, 2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
May 8, 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2EPL
May 5, 2013Man Utd. 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Odds
Returns: Norwich City £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £230.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Chelsea £16.67 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
28Mark BunnGoalkeeper
2Russell MartinDefender
5S. BassongDefender
6Michael TurnerDefender
18Javier GarridoDefender
4Bradley JohnsonMidfielder
7Robert SnodgrassMidfielder
12Anthony PilkingtonMidfielder
14Wesley HoolahanMidfielder
27Alexander TetteyMidfielder
9Grant HoltStriker
13Declan RuddGoalkeeper
20Leon BarnettDefender
24Ryan Bennett Defender
8Jonny HowsonMidfielder
17Elliott BennettMidfielder
10Simeon JacksonStriker
5Steve MorisonStriker
1Petr CechGoalkeeper
2Branislav IvanovicDefender
3Ashley ColeDefender
4David LuizDefender
24Gary CahillDefender
28César AzpilicuetaDefender
11OscarMidfielder
12John Obi MikelMidfielder
13Victor MosesMidfielder
9Fernando TorresStriker
10Juan MataStriker
22Ross TurnbullGoalkeeper
19Paulo FerreiraDefender
-Nathan AkeDefender
8Frank LampardMidfielder
17Eden HazardMidfielder
21Marko MarinMidfielder
-Lucas PiazonStriker
Players to Watch
Robert Snodgrass
Robert Snodgrass
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
37 6 8 0
The Scottish winger-cum-striker contributed massively to Norwich’s recent unbeaten run, and has been in sparkling form in the last few weeks. The 25-year-old has scored or assisted in five goals in his last five league appearances. The former Leeds attacker is pacey, direct, an accurate crosser and a major goal threat. His sweet left foot also provides consistently dangerous set-pieces which the Canaries have exploited to good effect this season.
David Luiz
David Luiz
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 4
Games Goals YC RC
30 2 8 0
The Brazilian has been a revelation since moving into midfield, breaking up play and tenaciously battling with opposition players. Unshackled from his defensive duties, he’s also proven to be a more progressive and cultured user of the ball than both John Obi Mikel and Ramires. He played a delicious pass for Eden Hazard to score against Leeds, and thundered a Cristiano Ronaldo-style free-kick past Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan on Sunday.
Prediction
Chelsea travel to Carrow Road full of confidence after their eight-goal mauling of Aston Villa. But Norwich offer a far sterner test than the Villans, having recorded just one loss in 11 games. The home team will pose a major threat on set-plays, though looked tame and impotent up front without Grant Holt against West Brom. The Blues are beginning to find more structured fluidity in attack under Rafa Benitez, which is playing to the strengths of the much-maligned Fernando Torres, and should have too much firepower for the Canaries.
Editor's Prediction
Norwich City 1
Chelsea 2
Results
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Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		26 3
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Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0