Manchester City look to continue their march towards the Premier League title as Pep Guardiola’s Citizens host Leicester City at Etihad Stadium.
Victory will see Man City stay top of the Premier League whereas Leicester can move up to eighth with a win due to Wolves’ clash against Watford being postponed.
Team News
Kyle Walker could return for Man City after missing their wins over Leeds and Newcastle through illness.
Ferran Torres (foot), Liam Delap (ankle) and Benjamin Mendy (personal) are still ruled out.
Leicester could welcome Jannik Vestergaard, Ayoze Perez, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman back into the starting line-up, after the quartet were named as substitutes in the Foxes’ Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool in midweek.
Ricardo Pereira (shin), Jonny Evans (thigh), Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy (both hamstring) are doubts.
Filip Benkovic, Vontae Daley-Campbell and Hamza Choudhury (all illness) won’t be risked until match fit, whilst Daniel Amartey has been released early for international duty with Ghana at 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
James Justin (knee) and Wesley Fofana (leg) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won five of their last six league meetings against Leicester (W5, L1).
- Leicester have won just one of their last five away visits to Man City (W1, L4), plus haven’t claimed consecutive wins over the Citizens since November 2000 and 03 respectively.
- City lost their only previous Boxing Day clash against Leicester in 2018 as the Foxes came from behind to win 2-1 at home.
- Leicester’s Jamie Vardy has scored four goals in his last two away appearances against Manchester City, of which two of his four goals came from the penalty spot.
- This is the third meeting between Man City and Leicester this season after City won their league clash at Leicester in September, following the Foxes’ Community Shield win in August.
Prediction
Man City are currently in red-hot form with just one defeat in their last 11 matches in all competitions and have netted 12 goals in their last three matches alone, so confidence will be high especially after a clinical win at Newcastle in which they were perfect in all areas of the pitch.
Leicester meanwhile saw their last two league games postponed but I feel like Liverpool were a great test in midweek cup action to get them back into the swing, which was evident in their improved pace and movement on the ball yet their defence was inconsistent across 90 minutes.
On that note, I am expecting goals here because both teams will certainly go for the win but if Brendan Rogers fails to get his Foxes’ defence sorted tactically and focused, I can see a home win coming if Man City are at their attacking best and force mistakes at the back.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Leicester City
Result: Manchester City 6-3 Leicester City
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