Manchester City in good shape to end three-match winless run against Leicester on Saturday – City Watch
Manchester City host Leicester City on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium half a decade to the day since that Sergio Aguero goal against QPR that has been etched into football folklore forever. Unfortunately, there is less to play for five years later except a top four spot, something that is looking increasingly likely after last weekend’s favourable results.
Leicester have become quite a bogey team for City in recent times and the Blues go into this game on a three-match winless run against the reigning Premier League champions. Earlier this season, Pep Guardiola got a taste of how difficult English football can be, when an experimental system was torn to shreds as Leicester, then coached by Claudio Ranieri, went 4-0 up with England striker Jamie Vardy bagging himself a hat-trick. City pulled two goals back in the closing minutes, but it was a torrid experience overall for the Catalan boss.
Prior to that, last season, City were beaten 3-1 at home by Leicester as they marched towards the most unexpected of Premier League title wins. This was as the Manuel Pellegrini era wound down and fans were shocked as City went 3-0 down at home before Sergio Aguero bagged a consolation goal late on. And earlier this season away at Leicester, the teams played out a 0-0 bore draw.
You have to go back to March 2015 for the last Manchester City win over Leicester, a 2-0 win at the Etihad with goals coming from David Silva and James Milner. With new boss Craig Shakespeare turning the Foxes from relegation candidates to a solid team again, City must be wary on Saturday lunch-time of another upset against a team that seem to have a hoodoo over them.
City are boosted by injuries to Leicester centre-back duo Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, with Morgan definitely out and Huth described as a ‘major doubt’. Midfield ace Danny Drinkwater is another absentee and is out for the remainder of the season. On the City injury front, Sergio Aguero and John Stones have trained for two days running, putting the pair in contention for a weekend return.
Saturday presents a good opportunity for Manchester City to end one of the few ‘bogey team’ fixtures remaining for them, as they have done with Everton and Sunderland in recent years. On paper, they should be able to overcome Leicester and end a three-game unbeaten run, but must be concentrated and well prepared.
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