Manchester United may be a pale imitation of the sides Sir Alex built but they present the final chance this season for Norwich City’s ‘magical’ Premier League moment.
That is less a reflection of the current players, or social media brands, who from a distance seem to lack the cohesion and desire to match their talent in a season that appears to be drifting to another anti-climactic finish.
It is far more about the dazzling allure of the badge, the history and the magnificent arena that is Old Trafford. The Red Devils are rightly still revered as members of English footballing aristocracy.
With the greatest respect to any of Norwich’s remaining seven Premier League opponents, it is United at their 'Theatre of Dreams' that commands any star appeal over the run in.
Dean Smith's squad need points any which way they come between now and the final game of the season at home to Tottenham.
But can you imagine the psychological impact inside the group, and the ripples in the direction of clubs facing the same relegation fears, if Smith was able to repeat what he achieved earlier this season with his former employers Aston Villa?
The Villans snatched a late Premier League winner at Old Trafford in September, which perhaps may have confirmed to more seasoned United watchers the great leap forward, and a return to those halcyon days under Ferguson, would again prove elusive.
If Norwich could follow up two clean sheets and four points against Brighton and Burnley with an eye catching victory at Old Trafford it would set up a finish that looked well beyond them, after new year optimism gave way to painful reality.
Even if City have left themselves too much ground to claw back in the race to stay in this league a victory would forever remain a stand out memory, in the same manner previous Norwich teams and coaching set ups have savoured that feeling as far back as Nigel Worthington's era.
That squad beat a much more fearsome Manchester United containing Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2005. Dean Ashton and Leon McKenzie are forever remembered for their goalscoring part in a Carrow Road win which at least ensured Worthington’s battlers did take it the final game.
We can gloss over Fulham for the purposes of clinging to the renewed hope engendered by a merited triumph against Burnley last weekend.
That pattern has continued whenever City have subsequently found themselves at the top table.
Paul Lambert’s sole season in charge in the Premier League brought a win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, and away draws at both Arsenal and Liverpool.
Even the much-maligned Chris Hughton could point to wins over Spurs, Arsenal, United and Manchester City. That last one notable for the sublime slaloming solo effort from Jonny Howson on the final day of a season that saw Norwich finish inside the top half.
Alex Neil had the Alex Tettey ‘toe poke’ game at Old Trafford that sealed a first Norwich win at the iconic old stadium since 1989.
And then there was Daniel Farke, and a game for the ages, against United’s bitter rivals in September 2019.
An occasion, a performance and a result indelibly etched on those privileged to be present at Carrow Road. Farke’s depleted forces overwhelmed Pep Guardiola’s superstars in a bear pit of an atmosphere unrivalled since.
That such an intoxicatingly high watermark ended with another top flight relegation – and a 5-0 beating at the Citizens on the final day of that ‘Project Restart’ interrupted season – underlines why such a catalogue of special results will always live on in the consciousness.
Dusted off and re-told endlessly until the next one comes along.
In a modern-day Premier League era, where seasons more often than not for Norwich City end in crushing disappointment, they offer islands of ecstasy. This season, more than ever, the chasm City have strived to bridge feels wider than at any point previously.
That is why such one-off occasions, when David for a brief, glorious 90 minutes can upset Goliath, feel so memorable.
Span this season’s toil under first Farke and now Smith and maybe only the 16 minutes that separated Milot Rashica’s deflected strike at Anfield, and Liverpool’s furious response, provided a glorious interlude when the pulse started to quicken and the mind started to race for Norwich fans.
By the time Mo Salah had put Jurgen Klopp’s side in front the din around Anfield drowned out any realistic hope of a famous result.
The fact that both Liverpool and Manchester City appear in a class of their own, both in terms of league standings and the footballing exhibition they served up in last Sunday’s 2-2 league draw, possibly illustrates why Norwich have failed to grasp that ‘moment’ to sit alongside previous Premier League seasons. Yet.
Smith was right to assert there was a sense of injustice in the manner Ronaldo snaffled the points from the penalty spot in December’s reverse fixture. The City head coach still feels aggrieved at the manner of the Reds’ winning spot kick, but he would also have seen enough in how his side performed to know they can prevail this weekend.
United go into this game smarting from another limp effort in defeat to Everton, that looks to have quashed hopes of a top four finish, with on going uncertainty behind the scenes, and planned fan protests prior to the game towards the American ownership.
There may be the whiff of dissension and anger in the air. Fertile conditions for Smith’s Norwich to exploit. Not only to offer further evidence this season is not done, but to add another entry into the pantheon of Premier League moments.
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