On Boxing Day, leaders Manchester City host ninth-placed Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium. Thanks to their eighth win in a row, the home side on Sunday extended their lead over closest rivals Liverpool FC to three points. Now, Pep Guardiola’s team could benefit from the postponement of the Reds’ home game against Leeds United. Not least because Leicester City have not exactly excelled in their last nine league away games. In these, the Foxes have only scored against teams ranked in the second half of the table.
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What speaks for Manchester City?
- Won all last eight championship games so far
- Have not conceded any goals in their last three league appearances
- Many of the opponents’ players are either injured or have been infected with Covid-19.
- Did not compete in the Carabao Cup during the week and could focus completely on the home fixture on Boxing Day
What speaks for Leicester City?
- Took a 3-1 lead at Liverpool FC in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday
- Moreover, because of the many absences the guests can only surprise
For the match of the leader on Boxing Day, we have prepared an interesting betting analysis for you with betting odds of 1.90.
Analysis Manchester City
Manchester City won ten of their last eleven championship matches. Here, the only loss of points happened at the end of October with a home defeat against Crystal Palace. Afterwards, Pep Guardiola’s team immediately returned to winning ways with a 2-0 away victory in the city derby against Manchester United.
Since the match against the Red Devils, everything has been going like clockwork for the Citizens in the Premier League. The leaders have won eight matches and have not conceded a goal in five of them. Here, the last time Manchester City did not keep a clean sheet was in an away win against Watford on 6 December.
Thereafter, initially, they won at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0) and against Leeds United (7-0). On 19 December, City extended their lead with a 4-0 win at Newcastle United. Their nearest rivals, Liverpool FC, are now three points behind. The postponement of the Reds’ home game against Leeds United also plays into the Citizens’ favour.
Moreover, Manchester City can consider itself lucky that there are currently no Covid-19 cases in and around the team. And in general, Guardiola can plan with almost the whole squad. Benjamin Mendy and Ferrán Torres are certain to miss out, but Torres’ transfer to FC Barcelona is already a done deal.
After his red card against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, Kyle Walker missed three championship games. Guardiola justified this with a lack of fitness. We will see if he will involve the right-back for Manchester City’s home clash against Leicester City. Furthermore, City have the advantage of not competing in the Carabao Cup during the week.
Analysis Leicester City
Considering Manchester City’s run of form, it obviously sounds banal, but for Leicester City, this fixture comes at the worst possible time. For the Foxes, it is their first league game in a fortnight. That is because: the home game against Tottenham Hotspur and the match at Everton had to be postponed due to too many Covid-19-cases.
Brendan Rodgers’ side’s last Premier League match so far on 12 December ended in a 4-0 home win over Newcastle United. After a 4-2 home win over Watford, this was their second success in four league appearances. However, the Foxes in their most recent six league fixtures have only beaten teams ranked in the bottom fifth of the table. Moreover, in their last nine league away games, they scored only against teams in the second half of the table. On 5 December, they lost 2-1 at Aston Villa.
The next setback followed in the Carabao Cup on 22 December. Despite their many absences, Leicester City took a 3-1 lead at Liverpool FC. Jamie Vardy played a significant role in this with a double strike in the opening phase. Thereafter, the Foxes squandered their advantage in the last 20 minutes and lost on penalties.
To make matters worse, Vardy, Ricardo Pereira and Çaglar Söyüncü suffered injuries. As with Harvey Barnes and Timothy Castagne, their appearance at the Etihad Stadium is in doubt. Wesley Fofana and James Justin surely miss out.
Head-to-head comparison Manchester City – Leicester City
This is the second competitive match between Manchester City and Leicester City this season. At the beginning of August, the Foxes surprised with a 1-0 win in the Community Shield. Then, the Citizens celebrated a 1-0 away win in the Premier League in mid-September.
Betting tip Manchester City – Leicester City
More or less everything is in Manchester City’s favour ahead of the home match against Leicester City on Boxing Day. Thanks to eight championship wins in a row, Pep Guardiola’s team is brimming with confidence. And in their three most recent matches, they have not conceded any goals. Moreover, after his double in the Carabao Cup at Liverpool FC, Jamie Vardy may be out. This is just one of numerous players who are unfit before this clash. And already before, the Foxes were struggling with their form.
Betting tip: Manchester City FC & Both teams score goals – no, odds 1.90 at Betway.
