Leicester City face a tough test as they prepare to take on Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.
Victory would put Leicester above Pep Guardiola’s Citizens into the top four, whereas Man City can go top with a win due to their superior goal difference over Tottenham if Spurs plus West Ham and Manchester United lose elsewhere.
Team News
Ryan Bertrand is set to return for Leicester after missing their win at Norwich a fortnight ago after testing positive for Coronavirus.
Jannik Vestergaard (knee) and Jonny Evans (heel) are set to feature if pass fitness tests, although Ricardo Pereira (hamstring) is doubtful.
Ayoze Perez (suspension), James Justin (knee), Wesley Fofana (leg) and Nampalys Mendy (groin) remain ruled out.
Ademola Lookman could make his Foxes debut after joining on loan from RB Leipzig on Deadline Day.
Man City could be without Ederson and Gabriel Jesus after breaching FIFA regulations by refusing to release both players, following their call-ups by Brazil.
Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne are both doubtful as they continue to recover from ankle injuries picked up during this summer’s Euro 2020, although they will both face late fitness tests alongside Aymeric Laporte (knock).
Zack Steffen (Coronavirus), Benjamin Mendy (personal) and Liam Delap (unspecified) are ruled out
Stat Attack
- Leicester have won just one of their last five league meetings against Man City (W1, L4).
- Man City have won three of their last five league visits to Leicester (W3, L2), keeping clean sheets in all three away victories.
- City’s Gabriel Jesus has scored once in each of his three league appearances away to Leicester at King Power Stadium.
- Jamie Vardy is the first Leicester player to net more than once this season, having netted in wins over Wolves and Norwich.
- City have avoided defeat in their two opening away league matches of a new season since 2013-14 season, when they failed to claim victory in their first three away trips (D1, L2) in that campaign.
Prediction
This will be a tough clash for Leicester because they cannot afford to repeat their laid-back first-half performance from their win over Norwich last time out, although their strong second-half display and belief from last month’s Community Shield win over Man City should help them mentally here.
City meanwhile were ruthless in their last two matches with 5-0 wins over Norwich and Arsenal, albeit at home in which they were on the front foot with confidence throughout, yet now must take that quality into this away match which is a whole different task compared to the Etihad.
Either way, this should be a tough battle but I can see Man City prevailing unless Ederson and Jesus are banned, otherwise I fancy Leicester to get a home win if they play a strong pressing game and are clinical.
Prediction: Leicester City 1-2 Manchester City
Result: Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City