Manchester City continue their Premier League title push against relegation-battling Luton at Etihad Stadium.
Victory would see Man City go top for at least 23 hours whilst Luton can climb out of the relegation zone with a win or draw if can better Nottingham Forest’s result elsewhere.
Team News
Phil Foden could be rested by Man City after he suffered a dead leg during their 3-3 draw at Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League.
Nathan Ake (calf) and Kyle Walker (hamstring) remain absent.
Luton will be without defender, Issa Kabore who is ineligible to face his parent club whilst on loan at the Hatters.
Reece Burke and Teden Mengi are doubtful after the pair failed to train this week.
Amari’i Bell, Dan Potts, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Chiedozie Ogbene, Elijah Adebayo (all hamstring), Mads Andersen (calf), Gabriel Osho, Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Brown (all knee) and Tom Lockyer (illness) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Luton at Etihad Stadium at 3pm BST on Saturday 13 April, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City won their only previous Premier League meeting against Luton by a 2-1 result at Kenilworth Road in December 2023.
- Luton are winless in their last six visits to Man City (D2, L4), although this is their first such visit this century and to the Etihad Stadium.
- Man City have scored nine goals without conceding in their last three home games against Luton (W3).
- Phil Foden has scored four goals in two of his last three home appearances for Man City.
- Luton are winless in their last seven league matches on the road (D3, L4).
Prediction
Although they drew 3-3 at Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, Man City can’t really afford to drop focus in this domestic title race and rest too many regulars despite Luton probably being judged as a comfortable home win on paper.
City’s defence though must cut out their sloppy moments which does seem a regular occurrence with just two clean sheets in their last seven games, showing a fragility that is rare in this superb squad.
Luton though will be motivated now that Everton are back in their grasp alongside Forest in the fight for survival, whilst their late comeback against Bournemouth sums up how gutsy these Hatters are even when they look done so I won’t write them off here.
Pep Guardiola however needs to realistically go strong early if City are to try and kill the game off before resting some key players, otherwise Luton could well snatch a point if the hosts aren’t careful but I do fancy the Cityzens to get the win and put pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Luton
Result: Manchester City 5-1 Luton
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