Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
The last time these two sides met was back in February. That wet Saturday lunchtime saw Leicester run out 3-1 winners at The Etihad and for many it was the point where many felt that Leicester confirmed themselves as serious title contenders. We all know how that story ended but it’s fair to say the following chapter hasn’t quite been as good a read for Leicester fans.
That’s because they currently find themselves in 16th in the Premier League table and there is every possibility that they could find themselves in the bottom three when this game kicks off should other results go against Claudio Ranieri’s men.
They play host to Manchester City this evening while coming off the back of a Champions League thumping in midweek. After already topping the group Claudio Ranieri rightfully had every right to tinker with his starting lineup but the manner of defeat would have certainly created even more cause for concern.
Leicester have failed to win any of their last five league matches and that has seen them slide down the table into what is now a pretty precarious position. Results need to take an upward swing almost immediately but life won’t get any easier when Pep Guardiola’s men come to The King Power.
The only saving grace for Leicester is perhaps the fact that Sergio Aguero is absent for the next four league matches after being sent off for that almost ludicrous tackle on David Luiz last Saturday as City were on their way to losing to Chelsea 3-1 at The Etihad.
The fracas that followed from that tackle also saw Fernandinho see Red figuratively and literally as he was also given his marching orders by Anthony Taylor as City finished the game with just 9 men. A costly defeat in terms of league position but also in terms of losing key personnel for the foreseeable future.
Ready to step into Aguero’s boots will be Kelechi Iheanacho who scored in City’s midweek draw with Celtic in what was a Champions League dead rubber. The fact that it was so meant that Guardiola could also afford to make wholesale changes and once again he had to make do with being held by Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side.
That added to defeat to Chelsea means it hasn’t been the best week for Pep Guardiola. He will point to the fact that had City landed the hammer blow to Chelsea when they were ahead then it would have been a different outcome but they failed to do so and were duly punished as once again Antonio Conte’s men came out stronger after the break.
City know that they can’t afford to drop any more points to a Chelsea side which is unstoppable as of late and will look to bounce back against a Leicester side who lost to Sunderland last Saturday and for large spells of the game were second best.
Leicester are going to have to start the game brightly and get in City’s face but this City side is going to be somewhat of a wounded animal after last Saturday’s defeat to their close title rivals. They may not have Aguero but Iheanacho is a worthy deputy and I think they will have enough to cause more misery for the champions. An away win for me.
