Manchester City hopes to reignite their title bid continues when they host the highly rejuvenated Leicester City at the Etihad on Saturday 21 December. Both teams will be looking forward to cutting down the gap between them and the league leader Liverpool.
However, this game will be a battle between two vast tacticians, Guardiola Vs Brendan Rogers. A battle between Guardiola Tiki-taka and Rogers, coupled with Tiki-taka.
So, which tactics will prevail? Is it Guardiola Tiki-taka? Or Rogers’s high pressing coupled with Tiki-taka? Read on!
Here at sport betting sites like 888, we will take an in-depth analysis of both Manchester City and Leicester City teams, beginning from the team tactics and forms to individual brilliance to help you make proper betting predictions.
Manchester City may be without injured David Silva and Sergio Aguero on Saturday when they face Leicester City. Guardiola when asked about the possibility of Silva and Aguero returning quickly from injury, said: “I’m hopeful both Silva and Aguero would soon be back in contention for selection”.
However, this injury news is not too good for the Guardiola side which is still struggling for balance in all departments.
Manchester City’s form has dipped drastically this season, and their 3-0 victory against Arsenal on Sunday doesn’t take away the fact that they have been struggling to keep up with rivalries this season.”We know we have not been at our best this year, but we keep fighting, and there’s still a lot of game to play for us” said Kevin De Bruyne after the game against Arsenal.
A 1-2 defeat at home to Manchester United is an indication that Guardiola Tiki-taka is gradually undermining.
However, there is hope for Manchester City to cut down the wide margin between Liverpool and equally levelled with Leicester City only if Kevin De Bruyne can show class again.
The Belgian has been absolutely incredible all seasons. He was emphatic and won the man-of-the-match against Arsenal on Sunday.
Also, Leicester City with no major injuries or suspended players will continue with the hope of extending their 10 premier matches unbeaten run when they face Manchester City on Saturday.
The foxes have enjoyed a remarkable transformation under the Northern Irish tactician. Brendan Rogers has greatly improved the Leicester City team by dropping the wheezing football the Foxes are known for and embracing the more effective high-pressing pattern.
With this, Leicester City has played 17 premier league games this season and won nothing less than 12 games without any hassles. With the quick resurgence of Caglar Soyuncu, Ricardo Pereira, Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison and premier top goalscorer- Jamie Vardy, they have scored more goals than any other premier league teams.
However, Leicester City 1-1 draw at home against Norwich City last weekend could be an indication that fatigue is setting-in in the Brendan Rogers team. Not only that, their attitude towards big matches under Brendan Rogers is suspected. They lost to Liverpool, Manchester United and a draw against the young Chelsea team. This might be an indication that Brendan Rogers’s side is not too strong to handle the calibres of Manchester City.
Finally, a loss to Leicester City will spell doom for Guardiola’s men. That is, Manchester City will be completely out of the title race and also placed Leicester City in a serene position to catch up with Liverpool in the title race.
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