Prediction: Manchester City vs Leicester City

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: bet365

Manchester City are set to welcome Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening in a game that will be a part of the 18th round of this season’s Premier League race. It should be a very interesting contest, given the consequences it may ultimately have on the race itself.

Manchester City

This team under the command of Pep Guardiola won 198 points in the last two seasons – an incredible achievement which, naturally, brought them the Premier League title quite deservedly, on both occasions. However, things aren’t going nearly as well this time around for the defending champions. after 17 rounds, they’ve allowed a whole 14-point gap to be created between them and table-toppers Liverpool. It was very challenging for City to defend the title last time around – Liverpool pushed them to the final matchday – but this time it may well prove beyond their reach. Of course, nothing is over yet, they are quite capable of going on a fantastic run, but at the moment, it doesn’t look likely that they’ll lift the trophy again come May.

It has been a different story in the Champions League, though. City comfortably topped Group C, also containing Atalanta, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb. Now, however, they have been drawn to play against 13-time winners Real Madrid in the round of 16, and it’ll certainly be a real challenge.

Team News

But with the Champions League worries put on hold for a few months, City are sure to go full-steam in the league now. There are a lot of matches to be played in the coming period, and Guardiola is likely, like every other manager in England’s top flight, to rotate his players a bit. As for injuries, the champions have a pair of long-term absentees in defender Aymeric Laporte and winger Leroy Sane, who are both out with knee injuries. Forward Sergio Aguero has also been out recently with a thigh problem, as has defender John Stones, but they could both feature on Saturday. Midfielder David Silva could also make an appearance after an injury absence, but Guardiola indicated that it wasn’t very likely.

Leicester City

Leicester are once again the surprise of the season in the Premier League, there can be no doubt about that. They appear to have made some fantastic business in the summer transfer market, parting ways with Harry Maguire a world-record fee for a defender and signing Caglar Soyuncu to replace him for significantly less – and actually looking better for it. In fact, they are perceived as the biggest threat to Liverpool in the title race, bigger than City, as the gap they would have to overcome is only eight points. Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has put together a fine team that plays attractive football. And for those saying that the Foxes cannot maintain this level throughout the season, it’s worth remembering that the same was being said throughout 2015/16, when they ended lifting the Premier League trophy.

They have quality players all over the pitch – it’s hard to judge which section could be described as better than the others. Their position in the table – second place, ahead of Manchester City, is no fluke.

Team News

The only name absent from the squad at the moment is Matthew James. The midfielder is recovering from a calf problem, and he isn’t close to returning to action yet.

Conclusion

This is a game that might easily swing either way. Unless there’s an early red card or some other unforeseen circumstance, neither team will have it easy, that much is certain. But neither of these teams is likely to be set up in a defensive sort of way, so expect the ball to move from one side of the pitch to the other very quickly, and expect chances. And expect goals.

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: bet365