Better than Mohamaed Salah: Manchester United must have plan to prevent Teemi Pukki pressure

Manchester United this afternoon host relegation-strugglers Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday, looking to bounce back from an underwhelming fortnight that has seen Ralf Rangnick’s side draw at home to Leicester and defeated at Everton.

United have seven matches to close the six-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed Tottenham. Rangnick’s side must put together a positive run if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League, and are looking to start that run with a win over the Canaries.

Dean Smith’s side are currently rooted to the foot of the Premier League table and have between now and the end of the season to close a seven-point gap between them and safety. One man they will be relying on to help realise that aim is Teemu Pukki.

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Pukki has scored nine goals this season, equal with United’s prolific midfielder Bruno Fernandes, and most recently notched in Norwich’s 2-0 win over relegation rivals Burnley last week. That goal against Burnley was Pukki’s 75th for Norwich since his debut in 2018 and marked his 150th appearance for the club.

The Finnish international has seemingly rediscovered his goalscoring touch in recent weeks, racking up three Premier League goals in the past five matches. In that time Norwich have won one match and drawn one to breathe new life into their hopes of escaping relegation.

Pukki has an eye for goal which could pose an issue for a United side who have failed to keep a clean sheet in the last four Premier League matches. In fact, Ralf Rangnick’s side have conceded eight goals in that time, including a big 4-1 defeat at Manchester City at the beginning of March.