Huddersfield vs Manchester City – Premier League Match Preview

Dan Tracey November 26, 2017 Leave a comment 2,054 Views

What can you say about Manchester City that has not already been said, there have been so many superlatives for this team that has won it’s last 10 Premier League matches while sitting five points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand over crosstown rivals Manchester United.

Today it is the turn of Huddersfield to try and slow down this juggernaut as the two teams go head to head at the John Smith’s Stadium. It may be David vs Goliath this afternoon but keep in mind David (Wagner) has already masterminded a home win over Manchester United this season.

That win came back in October but after their result last weekend that victory will be just a distant memory, they made the long journey to the Vitality Stadium eight days ago and were soundly beaten 4-0 by a resurgent Bournemouth.

To compound the misery Bournemouth played more than 45 minutes with 10 men after defender Simon Francis was sent off before the break after collecting two yellow cards. Huddersfield can point to poor officiating in the first half but with a perfect platform to get back into the game they did the complete opposite.

They are have won two of their last five matches and that has given them some breathing space when compared to the teams in the bottom three but when you look at the numbers in the goals for and goals against column they do make some worrying reading.

Huddersfield have only scored eight goals this season, an average of 0.75 goals a game while they have conceded 17 at the other end, meaning that they are conceding more than 1.5 goals against at the other end. That said it is the league placing that matters the most and 10th place is not something to be sniffed at.

An unlikely win would see them swap places with Brighton and move to ninth in the table but they are going to have their work cut out against a Manchester City side that is averaging 3.33 goals per game this season after scoring 40 in their first 12 matches.

Last weekend they had to make do with just the two goals as they traveled to the King Power Stadium and exacted revenge for the 4-2 defeat that they were dealt there last season. It was a result in which Pep Guardiola would have concluded which players were not going to make the cut and you can see the difference nearly 12 months later.

It does not matter who they play at the moment quite simply there are going to be goals, be it Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane or Raheem Sterling whichever three of the quarter plays then the end result is very much the same.

There is no doubting their talents but when you have master puppeteers such as David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings not to mention the latter is not averse to chipping in with a goal or two it makes life difficult for even the toughest of oppositions.

From a preview point of view, Manchester City are arguably the toughest team to write about as it is near impossible to second guess Pep Guardiola as to what his starting lineup will be especially in attack. One thing that is for certain is that there will be no John Stones.

The England international picked up a hamstring injury that will see him ruled out for 4-6 weeks, Vincent Kompany was already drafted into the team last week because of injury to Nicolas Otamendi but with the attacking threat they have at their disposal it doesn’t really matter who plays at centre back right now.

Last time these two clubs faced of here it was actually a 0-0 draw in the F.A. Cup, to be honest I think that is the best that Huddersfield can hope for this afternoon as I quite simply cannot see anything other than a Manchester City win which sees them once again go eight points clear at the top.

Here is what social media thinks will happen – you can still vote on the outcome