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Norwich City will take on MK Dons on Saturday in the first round of the Carabao Cup, with both sides looking to start their respective seasons strongly.
With both the Championship and League One set to begin next week, this match is also the final chance for both squads to get miles on the clock before the new season.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Norwich City vs MK Dons key stats
- Norwich City have lost just one pre-season match all summer.
- MK Dons have won just one of their last five matches.
- Fewer than three goals have been scored in five of Norwich City's seven matches this summer.
Norwich City vs MK Dons preview: Extra quality to prove key
Norwich City vs MK Dons — Tale of the Tape
| Norwich City | vs | MK Dons |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Position | N/A |
| N/A | Points | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
| N/A | Clean Sheets | N/A |
| N/A | Home / Away Rank | N/A |
After four consecutive seasons in the Championship, Norwich City will feel as far away from the Premier League as they have since they were playing in League One in 2009.
Last season, the Canaries flirted with a push for the playoffs but were never truly seen as a threat, and they have only finished inside the top six in three of their four seasons since Premier League relegation in 2022.
The man tasked with trying to get them out of the second tier this season is Phillip Clement, who did an excellent job of getting Norwich out of the relegation battle last season after being appointed mid-season.
Their form over the summer has been largely positive, and they have added five new first-team players to the squad, all of whom could end up being the difference between another season of finishing midtable and a genuine promotion push.
Ali Ahmed is Norwich's only injury absentee this weekend, meaning Clement will go as strong as possible.
As for MK Dons, this is an opportunity to pick up a scalp over a team in a higher division, but a strong performance is perhaps more important given that they are expected to lose and have more important matters to deal with next week.
The last thing Paul Warne needs ahead of the new season is for his team to be taken to the cleaners by Norwich on Saturday, but the Dons' form over the summer is cause for concern.
Of the six pre-season friendlies they have played, MK Dons have won just two and have tasted defeat to the likes of Wealdstone. If they can win on Saturday, though, all concerns ahead of the new season will vanish.
Last season, the Dons secured promotion to League One after finishing second in League Two. While back-to-back promotions are the dream, safety will be the priority.
Norwich City vs MK Dons form guide & betting tips
| Norwich City | vs | MK Dons |
|---|---|---|
W
D
W
L
D |
Form |
L
L
L
D
W
|
| 6 | Goals For | 3 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 3 |
N/A |
Carabao Cup | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Norwich City 2-0 MK Dons
Norwich have both pre-season form and squad quality on their side here. Norwich to win to nil has been priced at 17/10.
Each of MK Dons' last four matches have produced fewer than three goals. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 11/10.
Mohamed Toure scored 10 goals in 12 appearances for Norwich City last season. Toure is priced at 5/4 to score anytime on Saturday.
> Norwich City to win at 17/10 (2.70) | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 11/10 (2.10) | Likelihood: Probable
> Toure to score anytime at 5/4 (2.25) | Likelihood: Possible