MY ACCOUNT
– Man City have won seven of their last nine games by more than two goals.
– Leicester have lost eight of their last nine games and were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad last season.
– Recommended Bet: Back Man City -2 on Spread (3-Way)
Manchester City face Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday with the task of piling more pressure on Arsenal as they hunt the Premier League leaders down.
The Gunners’ inability to beat Liverpool last Sunday, coupled with City’s victory at Southampton, means the champions are the masters of their own destiny again because they host Arsenal later this month and have a game in hand, as well as a superior goal difference.
Pep Guardiola’s side showed why they are among the most feared in the world when destroying Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final in midweek to make it nine consecutive wins in all competitions.
Leicester lost their second game since Brendan Rodgers’ departure when relegation rivals Bournemouth secured a 1-0 win at King Power Stadium last weekend to leave them stuck in 19th place.
Former Aston Villa and Norwich boss Dean Smith takes charge of the team for the first time this week, looking to arrest a shocking run of eight defeats in their last nine games.
Team news
City’s only injury issue is Phil Foden (appendix), who Guardiola confirmed has yet to return to training following his operation.
Riyad Mahrez could be recalled to the starting line-up to face his former club after missing out in midweek, while Julian Alvarez could also be involved from the start if Kevin de Bruyne, who appeared to suffer a knock against Bayern, is rested.
As for the Foxes, Harvey Barnes will miss the game at the Etihad Stadium and the winger is also said to be “touch and go” to make Leicester’s subsequent clash with Wolves.
Youri Tielemans is available for selection but his chances of starting the game will only be known once he has been assessed closer to kick-off.
Smith said Ricardo Pereira will be out for “a few weeks” with a hamstring injury.
The stats
City have won 10 of their past 12 Premier League games against Leicester, taking the spoils in the past four in a row since a 5-2 home defeat in September 2020.
Guardiola’s side have scored 24 times in their last five games, which is more than Leicester have produced in 20 matches since the post-World Cup resumption (21).
Erling Haaland scored his 45th club goal of the season on Wednesday and now has just four goals fewer in all competitions than Leicester have managed in 2022-23 (49).
Foxes midfielder James Maddison has netted in this exact fixture in each of the past two campaigns and only two visiting players have scored a Premier League goal at Etihad Stadium in three consecutive seasons, Collins John (2004-05 to 2006-07) and Tim Cahill (2008-09 to 2010-11).
Prediction
The question here is not who, but how many, as City’s imperious form over the last two months makes them appear unbeatable.
Better teams than Leicester have tried and failed to keep them at bay, including a valiant attempt by Southampton to press them into errors last week.
Smith will surely be in damage limitation mode with his set-up and hope to catch the champions on the break, but he is without one of his best ball carriers in Barnes.
Recent results suggest City should run out easy winners and they may even be able to take their foot off the gas to keep something in the tank for next week’s return trip to Munich.
Back Man City -2 on the Spread (3-Way) at 1/1 with LiveScore Bet.
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