On Sunday, December 29, Leicester City will host Manchester City at the King Power Stadium in the 19th round of the English Premier League. The match is set to kick off at 15:30 CET. With both teams battling respective challenges, this clash promises to deliver drama and intrigue.
Head-to-Head History and Key Stats
- Manchester City has won 8 of their last 10 matches against Leicester.
- Leicester City has scored just 1 goal in their last three matches.
- Manchester City has struggled defensively, conceding at least one goal in their last five matches.
This will mark the 101st meeting between the two teams, with City leading the series with 49 victories to Leicester’s 29.
MATCH PREVIEW:
Leicester City
Leicester is grappling with the threat of relegation this season. A managerial change saw Ruud van Nistelrooy take charge from Steve Cooper, but the “Foxes” still find themselves in 18th place with just 14 points.
Their form has been concerning, with a three-game losing streak. Last week, Leicester took an early lead against Liverpool at Anfield but fell to a 3-1 defeat. Prior to that, heavy losses to Wolverhampton (0-3) and Newcastle (0-4) underscored their struggles.
Van Nistelrooy’s tenure has shown glimpses of potential, with a 3-1 win over West Ham and a 2-2 draw with Brighton, but consistency remains elusive.
Manchester City
Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent memory. The reigning Premier League champions sit in seventh place, winless in their last five league matches.
In their previous outing, City was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Everton, following back-to-back defeats to Aston Villa (1-2) and Manchester United (1-2). In the Champions League, their fortunes have been equally poor, with just 1 point from their last three matches.
Despite their struggles, City’s attacking lineup remains potent, with players like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne capable of turning any game around.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS:
Leicester City:
Stolarczyk; Justin, Okoli, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumaré; Decordova-Reid, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Vardy
Manchester City:
Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Aké, Gvardiol; Kovačić; Savinho, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland
PREDICTION:
While Manchester City enters this match as favorites, their defensive vulnerabilities cannot be overlooked. Leicester’s attacking threats, led by Jamie Vardy, could exploit these weaknesses.
Prediction: Both teams to score. Manchester City to edge it 2-1.
