Norwich vs Southampton: Predicted line-ups for Premier League return

Southampton and Norwich City return to Premier League action on Friday evening when they face each other at Carrow Road.

It is now three months since both sides last played a top-flight fixture after the 2019/20 season was suspended back in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

When they kick-off tomorrow at 6pm UK time though, both will be wanting to claim the vital three points on offer.

Up until the starting teams are announced, it will be unclear how both Ralph Hasenhuttl and Daniel Farke are looking to setup.

There has been some notable team news provided by both managers in this week’s pre-match press conferences though.

Saints will be without winger Moussa Djenepo, who begins a three-match suspension after being sent off in their last competitive meeting with Newcastle United.

Ralph Hasenhuttl also confirmed the this week could be “too early” for Shane Long to return to action after a recent muscular problem (via southamptonfc.com).

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Norwich will be without four first-team players in their preparations for tomorrow’s game.

In his pre-match press conference, Daniel Farke confirmed that each of Grant Hanley, Sam Byram and Christoph Zimmermann, with all three players ruled out for the rest of the 2019/20 campaign.

Marco Stiepermann will also miss the clash with Saints after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier  this week, but the Canaries will be boosted by the return to fitness of Timm Klose (via canaries.co.uk).

Up until the season was put on hold in March, the style of play of both teams and their managers was clear to see.

Ralph Hasenhuttl is an advocate of high-pressing football and favours the 4-2-2-2 system that best suits the tactics he imposes on his team, whilst Daniel Farke’s side play a possession-based game that utilises both quick, short passing patterns and the 4-2-3-1 formation.

It is also important to remember that many players could have an influence on the match with five substitutions permitted between now and the end of the season.

Presuming that both managers will stick to their key principles and the players they have trusted most this season, this is how we can expect both sides to line-up.

Predicted Norwich line-up: Tim Krul, Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey, Timm Klose, Jamal Lewis, Kenny McLean, Alex Tettey, Ondrej Duda, Emiliano Buendia, Todd Cantwell, Teemu Puuki.

Predicted Saints line-up: Alex McCarthy, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Ryan Bertrand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong, Nathan Redmond, Danny Ings, Michael Obafemi