Norwich City will be hoping to get off to a winning start on their return to the Premier League when they host Crystal Palace at Carrow Road on Saturday.
The Canaries are back in the top flight after spending just one season in the Championship, while their opponents have established themselves in the division and will be looking for another top-half finish.
Norwich City
© Getty Images
It was barely two years ago that Norwich were relegated to the Championship after a disastrous season in the top flight, which ended with a run of six defeats in their final seven games and a late change of manager that did little to spark a revival.
Neil Adams had taken charge and was unable to steer the club to safety, but he lasted just nine months in the job, and resigned in January with the Canaries seventh in the Championship.
Alex Neil was soon appointed as their new manager, and the Scot guided the club to a remarkable run of 15 wins from 22 games that helped to secure a playoff berth.
The club then saw off rivals Ipswich Town in the last four, before earning a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final to earn an immediate return to the Premier League.
Over the summer they have not made too many changes to their playing squad, with Robbie Brady, Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu and Jake Kean the only major arrivals at Carrow Road.
They have also managed to keep hold of key players such as Bradley Johnson, Gary Hooper and Nathan Redmond, who were all so vital to their success last season.
Recent form: WWLWLW
Crystal Palace
© Getty Images
Having enjoyed such a successful campaign last time around and securing a top-half finish in the Premier League, exceptions are sky high at Crystal Palace heading into the new campaign.
For long periods it had looked as if the Eagles would be involved in a relegation battle, after a poor start to the campaign that saw them win just three of their opening 20 league games of the season.
However, the appointment of club legend Alan Pardew as their manager in January gave them renewed hope and they quickly found their form to ease away from the drop zone.
A four-game winning run during March and April effectively secured their safety, and although they lost the four games that followed, wins over Liverpool and Swansea City helped to end their season on a positive note.
With so much cause for optimism, the club have invested in their squad over the summer, with the notable acquisitions of Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham signalling their intent. They have also signed Patrick Bamford on loan from Chelsea, after the young striker's impressive spell at Middlesbrough.
Another key factor of their transfer dealings this summer has been the ability to hold on to some of their star performers from last season. Yannick Bolasie has constantly been linked with a move away after his standout displays, but Pardew has insisted that the DR Congo international will be staying.
Recent form: LWLWDL
Team News
© Getty Images
Norwich were dealt a blow at the weekend when summer signing Mulumbu broke his metatarsal during a 2-1 victory over Brentford.
He has been ruled out for the first few weeks of the season, while Martin Olsson, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, is also expected to miss out.
However, Brady is in line to make his debut for the Canaries after his £7m move from Hull City last week, with Cameron Jerome leading the attack.
Meanwhile, Julian Speroni has been ruled out with a finger injury, so Alex McCarthy should make his debut for the Eagles.
The club are also sweating on the fitness of Bolasie, and if he is unable to play then there could be a start for former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Bakary Sako, who joined the club earlier this week.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Rudd, Wisdom, Martin, Bassong, Whittaker, Redmond, Johnson, Howson, Brady, Hoolahan, Jerome
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
McCarthy, Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Ledley, McArthur, Cabaye, Zaha, Bolasie, Wickham
Head To Head
These teams last met in the Premier League on New Year's Day in 2014, when a penalty from Jason Puncheon cancelled out an earlier strike from Johnson in a 1-1 draw.
It was Norwich who had come out on top in the previous clash a month before, as Hooper struck to earn the Canaries a 1-0 victory.
In the all time head-to-head meetings between the teams it is Palace who lead, with their 46 wins just slightly ahead of the 44 triumphs that Norwich have managed.
We say: Norwich City 1-1 Crystal Palace
There is bound to be a fervent atmosphere around Carrow Road at the weekend as Norwich return to the top flight and they will come into the match in good spirits after last season's promotion. However, Palace have shown that they have the quality and experience needed to stay in the division and they were particularly successful away from Selhurst Park, so we think that the match will end up finishing in a draw.
No Data Analysis info
