By Graham Ruthven
Salvaging the season
This season hasn’t been what Manchester City wanted it to be, but Pep Guardiola’s team are at least trying to salvage something after making the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
City’s comeback win away to Bournemouth showed there is still life left in the Etihad Stadium outfit and victory over Leicester City on Wednesday night would boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester could hardly be in any worse form than they are right now. The Foxes have lost their last six league games in-a-row and have failed to score a single goal over the course of that run.
If Leicester can play on the counter-attack and use their speed in the final third, they could cause Manchester City issues. Guardiola’s high line will give the visitors something to target. Otherwise, City will likely stroll to three points.
Key players
Omar Marmoush will almost certainly lead the line for Manchester City after the injury suffered by Erling Haaland in the FA Cup victory over Bournemouth. The Egyptian is most effective as a second striker, but Guardiola doesn’t have many other options in the number nine position.
Nico O’Reilly made a strong case to start against Leicester after changing the game against the Cherries off the bench. The teenager could start at left back with Matheus Nunes potentially at risk of losing his spot.
With Leicester expected to sit deep and play on the break, it will be on City to find ways to break them down. This will place a creative onus on Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden. Jérémy Doku and Savinho could provide dynamism and directness on the wings.
Jamie Vardy is past his peak, but the 38-year-old will still be Leicester’s most potent threat, particularly if Leicester are able to play through the Manchester City press at speed.
Mads Hermansen will face a busy evening at the Etihad Stadium, as will the defensive line of Conor Coady, Wout Faes and Luke Thomas in front of him. Leicester will bend, but can they stop themselves from breaking?
Team news
While Manchester City have yet to reveal the true extent of Haaland’s knee injury, he will miss the home fixture against Leicester. The fear for City is that this will be the start of a prolonged absence for the Norwegian striker.
Rodri is still sidelined, although there has been some speculation that the Spanish midfielder could return from injury before the end of the season. Nonetheless, Wednesday’s match will come too soon for him.
Abdul Fatawu is a long-term absentee for Leicester, with Ricardo Pereira another player who has recently missed matches through injury. The full back will be assessed before the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Odsonne Édouard hasn’t featured much for the Foxes lately while Harry Souttar is still sidelined through with an injury.
Prediction
While Leicester might not snap their current string of defeats, we do think the Foxes have got a good chance of at least ending their barren run in front of goal. But with Man City’s creative players beginning to find their stride again, City will find a way to break down the visitors to the Etihad: Man City 3-1 Leicester.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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