Premier League preview: Manchester City v Stoke

High-flying Manchester City host Stoke City on Wednesday with the visitors confident on the back of four wins.

But if City were suffering any residual nerves following their first league defeat of the season at Chelsea the week before they certainly did not show it, reasserting themselves on top of the table with the crucial 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday.

Stoke, meanwhile, made it four consecutive league wins with Saturday’s vistory over Wolves, the first time in the club’s history they have achieved the feat.

And they will no doubt attempt to rough up the likes of the fleet-footed Samir Nasri and David Silva with their no-nonsense, physical approach, but intimidation will only go so far particularly when deployed against a squad overflowing with talent.

Gael Clichy should return to left-back following his one-match suspension for a red card at Chelsea to ease manager Roberto Mancini’s selection burden in defence while Alexandr Kolarov remains sidelined with a groin complaint.

Peter Crouch and John Walters will most likely lead the attack for Stoke whose style might just trouble the league leaders.

City defeated Stoke in the sides’ last encounter with a 1-0 victory in the FA Cup final, but it was by no means one-way traffic for Mancini’s men.

Stoke have impressively negotiated their first season in Europe, advancing second in their Europa League Group E, while maintaining their excellent form in the league where they are eighth.

Tony Pulis’ men will head north to Manchester without the injured Glenn Whelan and Andy Wilkinson.