Five wins in a row in all competitions, finally looking like defending champions, Manchester United will want to continue on their merry way when they travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for an 8.30 pm IST start with live coverage on Star Sports 4 and Star Sports HD2. The match can be watched online via live streaming HERE. To catch the action in the US click HERE, while UK viewers can see the match live online HERE. Viewers in Australia can live stream the action HERE, with the same for Middle East and North Africa viewers HERE.
United had to show some real champion material in their Boxing Day fixture against Hull, coming down from two goals down to post a 3-2 victory, three points which took them above Tottenham and into seventh in the Premier League table.
"I always thought we'd go on and win it," Manchester United manager David Moyes told MUTV after the game on Thursday. "What we've got here is the capability and I don't think there would have been one supporter who thought that the game was over [when we went two down], I certainly didn't.
"My only concern was Hull's defensive record here this season, I think they'd only conceded three goals prior to today. "Thankfully, by halftime we were back level and I even thought we should have been 3-2 up by that point."
Eight points still separate them from leaders Arsenal, but Moyes will know more of the same shown in the past few weeks and competing for the top places will not be too far behind. United, like Norwich and plenty others, play their second game in two days, and Wayne Rooney, who was involved in all three goals against Hull, knows the Canaries will pose a different challenge.
"Saturday's match will be different to what we faced [at Hull]," he said. "It's always a good atmosphere at Carrow Road and I'm sure they'll come out running and trying to get in our faces, but we have to show our quality and hopefully that will win us the game."
Norwich did not have the greatest of Boxing Days, going down at home to Fulham, after the in-form striker Gary Hooper had given them the lead. Chris Hughton will not want to be sucked into another relegation battle come the final quarter of the season, and will know the importance of picking up points at home, even against a side like United, who incidentally they got the better of in the same fixture last season.
"It's never difficult to pick players up," Hughton said. "The reason why they do what they do is because they're very good professionals. Any bad period, or any defeat, always hurts. We're on the back of a disappointing result on Boxing Day. We certainly couldn't fault the effort of the players, we just didn't create enough clear-cut chances.
"We have to look forward, so it's never difficult to pick players up, particularly when you have a game within a couple of days because there isn't a choice.
"It's of course a big task. Manchester United are Manchester United and they have quality all over. We are playing at home though. It is an opportunity for us to bounce back from Thursday, and it is certainly the type of game that lifts everybody -- it's one to look forward to."
Team news: Norwich: Jonny Howson is a big doubt after missing the last couple of Premier League games, while Michael Turner will not feature through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Manchester United: Rafael limped out in the first half against Hull, and is unlikely to feature. Phil Jones, Nani and Robin Van Persie remain injured, while Antonio Valencia serves a one-match suspension for his red card against Hull. Michael Carrick could be in line for a start after recovering from a long-term problem.
Key men: Norwich: Hooper has been in great goalscoring form of late and the former Celtic striker will be the cynosure from the home side's point of view.
Manchester United: Rooney was at his best against Hull, assisting the first goal, scoring a cracker, and then forcing an own goal to pull United out of troubled waters. The England international will need to come to the fore yet again against a side capable of shutting up shop at home.
Expected lineups: Norwich: Ruddy; Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Fer, Johnson, Snodgrass; Elmander, Hooper.
Manchester United: De Gea; Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Januzaj, Rooney, Young; Welbeck.
Prediction: 2-1 to Manchester United
