MY ACCOUNT
– Manchester City have won their last 13 games in all competitions at the Etihad
– Leeds are winless in five and have conceded 23 goals in last seven league games
– Recommended bet: Over 3.5 Manchester City goals
Leeds are hoping Sam Allardyce, who has carved out a reputation as being a Premier League survival specialist, can keep their top-flight status intact.
However, the closing fixture list hasn’t been kind and the first test for Allardyce in a relegation-threatened Leeds dugout is a trip to title-chasing Manchester City.
Last Sunday’s 4-1 loss at Bournemouth called time on the tenure of Javi Gracia, while also extending Leeds’ winless run to five and left them outside of the bottom three on only goal difference.
Allardyce is renowned for his record of keeping teams in the Premier League, having done so on multiple occasions, and first things first will be steadying a Leeds defence that has conceded a league-high 67 times in 34 games.
The problem is that City are also desperate for points in their pursuit of the title and they are on a high after winning nine Premier League games on the spin, whereas Leeds have suffered defeat in 12 of their 17 away matches.
Team news
Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian Kevin De Bruyne has missed their last two wins over Fulham and West Ham but, such is their strength in depth, they have managed the situation with the minimum of fuss.
The bad news for Leeds is that De Bruyne is back in training and is in line for a return, leaving Pep Guardiola with a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Allardyce hasn’t been so lucky on the injury front and the visitors remain without Tyler Adams, Stuart Dallas and Luis Sinisterra.
Another blow for Allardyce is the injury to experienced centre-back Liam Cooper, who is another confirmed absentee having limped off before half-time in the recent loss to Bournemouth.
The stats
City are edging ever closer to the title after Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at home to West Ham took their winning run in all competitions at the Etihad to 13.
It was also a landmark match for the Norwegian phenomenon that is Erling Haaland, who coolly grabbed his 35th Premier League goal of the season to break the competition’s scoring record.
It was the eleventh time in City’s last 13 home games that they had netted three or more goals and it must have Leeds, who have conceded 14 times across their last three meetings with the Citizens, fearing the worst.
That is especially true given the visitors arrive in Manchester without a win in five and have conceded 23 goals across their last seven league matches.
Leeds also boast a miserable away record, having taken only nine points from 17 outings on the road this season, losing on 12 occasions.
The one hope for Leeds is that Allardyce’s appointment sparks some sort of response and they have been good for a goal this season with both teams scoring in each of their last nine Premier League matches.
Prediction
Allardyce may take some inspiration from West Ham’s first-half performance at the Etihad in midweek as the Hammers’ five-man defence frustrated City in a goalless first-half.
However, City’s pressure eventually paid off and allowing them the opportunity to dominate possession and toy with their prey can be just as fatal as trying to take the game to them.
So City are expected to, at some point, find their breakthrough as it is difficult to see how Allardyce can work his magic overnight on a Leeds defence that are without a clean sheet in 11.
Leeds have leaked four or more goals in three of their last five games while City have scored three or more in seven of their last eight league matches on their own patch.
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