Matches between teams that struggle as badly as Norwich City and Sunderland have this season are rarely worth much note, but in this case we may have an exception. This late in the season and with these two teams sitting relatively close to one another in the Premier League standings, we get a rare gift -- a so-called “relegation six-pointer” where two teams battling to save themselves from the drop go head-to-head in a desperate struggle for survival.
Norwich City vs. Sunderland 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
This match could have a profound impact on the relegation race.
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The extra edge of near-panic and dire need for any kind of success always makes matches like this fascinating, must-watch affairs, and this one will be no exception, especially as it could have consequences in the table beyond just this match. Besides, you never quite know what’s going to happen in a match like this, and that kind of unpredictability is always fun to watch.
What’s at stake
There’s a lot going on around this match besides just Norwich and Sunderland trying to bludgeon each other out of the EPL. A win for Norwich would be a fantastic result for the Canaries -- it wouldn’t technically bring them to safety, but a seven-point cushion over Sunderland would be a great comfort this close to the end of the season. Conversely, a win for Sunderland would throw the relegation race wide open again, with Norwich sitting one little point above the drop zone.
There’s also other impacts in the relegation race that could take place because of this match. Aston Villa are still technically alive, albeit barely -- but if Norwich City earn so much as one little point, they will officially be relegated. Their hopes are paper-thin as it is -- the odds of their survival are worse than your odds of winning a Lottery jackpot -- but any point earned by Norwich or points lost by themselves will officially end their bid for survival.
A win for Norwich would also make Newcastle’s situation more desperate. They would be nine points behind the Canaries pending the result of their own match against Swansea later in the day, and that would be a tough total to overcome for their own hopes to avoid relegation.
Norwich City injuries and suspensions
Out: Alex Tettey In doubt: Timm Klose
Sunderland injuries and suspensions
Out: None In doubt: Duncan Watmore
Match Date/Time: Sat., 7:45 a.m. ET, 12: 45 p.m. local
Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), TSN 3, 4 (Canada), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), BT Sport Live Streaming (U.K.)
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