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Norwich logo
Premier League | Gameweek 38
May 22, 2022 at 4pm UK
Carrow Road
Spurs logo

Norwich
0 - 5
Spurs


Byram (15'), Normann (31'), Springett (74')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Kulusevski (16', 64'), Kane (32'), Heung-min (70', 75')
Heung-min (85')

Preview: Norwich City vs. Tottenham Hotspur - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Tottenham Hotspur will aim to confirm their place in the 2022-23 Champions League when they travel to basement side Norwich City for the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's side realistically need just a point to finish in the top four, while the Carrow Road hosts have already been condemned to their fate.


Match preview

Norwich City manager Dean Smith on March 13, 2022© Reuters

Already preparing for their next attempt to gain an immediate promotion back to the Premier League in the seemingly never-ending yo-yo cycle, Norwich's hard-fought point against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out came too little too late for the Canaries to salvage anything meaningful.

Teemu Pukki's 11th goal of the season propelled Norwich into a half-time lead before Rayan Ait-Nouri levelled proceedings soon after the restart for the hosts, and Norwich's only attempt at a saving grace now will be a 19th-placed finish.

The rock-bottom Canaries are only one point behind Watford but with a significantly worse goal difference, although the Hornets face a daunting final-day meeting with Chelsea, and Norwich will be desperate to give their fans a small slice of delight before their return to the Championship.

Holding Wolves to a 1-1 draw did at least manage to end a five-game losing run in the Premier League for the Canaries, who had also gone 360 minutes without scoring in the top flight, but a tally of 12 goals at home is by far the worst in the division.

Furthermore, Norwich's last three final-day games in the Premier League have seen them concede 10 goals while chalking up a grand total of zero themselves - music to the ears of Tottenham fans, some of whom cannot shake the nerves ahead of Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte pictured on May 12, 2022© Reuters

Antonio Conte claimed that he wanted to "suffer" by watching Arsenal take on Newcastle United on Monday, but the only ones suffering were the Gunners, who ceded control of the top-four race to their North London rivals.

Tottenham, though, did ride their luck for periods against Burnley and only got over the line 1-0 thanks to Harry Kane's penalty following a handball by Ashley Barnes, who was unfortunate to see his long-range effort crash back out against the post in the second period.

Nevertheless, the Lilywhites held on for a crucial win which sees them hold a two-point lead over fifth-placed Arsenal, whose goal difference is far inferior ahead of Everton's trip to the Emirates, so one point against the Premier League's basement side should be enough to re-enter the promised land of the Champions League. Chelsea have not secured third place just yet either, but it would take a mammoth swing in goal difference for the Lilywhites to finish on the podium.

Not every Tottenham fan is 100% confident about their side's ability to handle the pressure, but Conte's side have now taken 11 points from the last 15 on offer in the Premier League and have only conceded one goal - to Liverpool, no less - in their last four Premier League away games.

Spurs eased to a 3-0 triumph over Norwich City when the Canaries travelled to the capital back in December, but the London club have previously lost to an already-relegated side on three occasions on the final day, which will certainly not calm the nerves of those in white.

Norwich City Premier League form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W


Team News

Cristian Romero in action for Tottenham Hotspur in February 2022© Reuters

Norwich boss Smith has confirmed that Mathias Normann is fine to feature despite coming off with a knock at Molineux, but Billy Gilmour (ankle) and Ben Gibson (back) will both need to be assessed.

Andrew Omobamidele, Adam Idah, Kenny McLean, Joshua Sargent, Ozan Kabak and Christoph Zimmermann will all miss the final day of the season through their various injury woes, but Smith will be loath to make too many changes after a strong showing against Wolves.

Should Gibson be ruled out, Norwich would likely have to revert to a back four, while Lukas Rupp is waiting in the wings if Gilmour is not deemed fit enough to feature.

As for Spurs, Cristian Romero's hip injury was expected to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season, but Conte has not ruled out the possibility of the Argentine being available here.

However, Japhet Tanganga, Oliver Skipp, Sergio Reguilon and Matt Doherty are all still on the road to recovery, and Conte will be expected to stick with his settled starting XI for Sunday's game after a reassuring update on the ill Kane.

A brace for Kane would see him become the outright top scorer on the final day of the Premier League season with 10, while Son Heung-min will aim to take advantage of Mohamed Salah's injury woes to clinch the Golden Boot - the South Korean currently boasts 21 strikes compared to Salah's 22.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Aarons, Byram, Hanley, Giannoulis; Rupp, Normann, Lees-Melou; Dowell, Pukki, Rashica

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son


SM words green background

We say: Norwich City 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur

Norwich will be determined to sign off with a positive result in front of the home crowd, but a couple of enforced changes from a strong showing at Wolves could prove fatal here.

Tottenham's normally bright attack has been guilty of a few profligate performances of late, but the Lilywhites are coming up against the worst defence in the top flight and should be able to enjoy the top-four celebrations come the final blow of the whistle.


For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Game History

How you voted: Norwich vs Spurs

Norwich City
15.9%
Draw
5.0%
Tottenham Hotspur
79.1%
258
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