Leicester v Manchester City Betting Tip Manchester City – 10 December 2016

Guardiola's men to edge the battle of the Cities

Premier League Tips

Saturday 10th December 2016 Kickoff: 1730hrs

Leicester City v Manchester City                                                                        

Football – England – Premier League League

With European football now out the way until February for both these clubs, all attention focuses on Premier League points for Leicester and Manchester City. The two will come into this weekend’s game needing the win for very different reasons as the hosts attempt to climb away from the relegation zone whilst their opponents will be looking to close the gap at the top of the table. It’s fair to say that neither have had the best of weeks so a win to end it would be very much welcome for both managers.

After the huge high of surprising everybody and winning the Premier League title last season, Leicester have came crashing back down to earth domestically, at least, and find themselves in 16th spot after 14 games. They have, of course, qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League – topping their group no least – but competing in two competitions seems to have been their undoing in the Premier League. The summer additions do not seem to have added the depth required so Claudio Ranieri will be relieved that he can concentrate solely on ensuring they are not dragged into a relegation battle and attempt to pull clear before they return to European action next year. They welcome City on Saturday evening having failed to win in the league since the 22nd of October, losing three of their last five. Another major concern for the manager is their poor defensive record as the Foxes have not kept a clean sheet in the league for eight games.

City will be on a recovery mission this weekend after a disappointing home defeat to Chelsea last Saturday which further illustrated that there is some serious work needing to be done with this team. The defeat was compounded further with the petulant dismissals of both Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero who will both miss Saturday’s trip to Leicester, indeed the latter will not be available for selection in the league again until New Year’s Eve. The situation is certainly not terminal as City lie in fourth, four points adrift of leaders Chelsea. They, too, have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League but Guardiola (who is known as a perfectionist) will know better than anyone that if they are to be successful in England and Europe, then performances and standards will simply have to be a lot better on a more consistent basis – starting on Saturday.

Leicester City v Manchester City Betting Tips

Leicester surprised world football last season when they took on and defeated the best England had to offer, and City failed to beat them on either occasion the two met. The circumstances surrounding the first meeting of the two this term are much more different as the home team come into it desperate for some respite after a recent poor run. City have not performed to the levels we expect but they could well have that bit of extra quality to make the difference.

As both clubs had already ensured qualification for the next stage of the Champions League, Ranieri and Guardiola opted to rotate their squads so their first choice XI will be well rested ahead of this one. City have won their last three away games in the league and even without Aguero I fancy them to edge this one and inflict yet more misery on their hosts.

Manchester City 3/4 @ Betfred