Man City vs Leeds Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Trystan Pugh ·
Updated
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Man City look to put a poor week behind them as they entertain a Leeds side who have lost their last three Premier League games.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – Peacock
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Peacock Premium
Man City preview: Bad week
It's not been a good week for Man City with Pep Guardiola's men having lost 2-1 to Newcastle in the Premier League last Saturday before a heavily rotated side lost 0-2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
City are seven points adrift of Arsenal in the Premier League table, and given the Gunners' relentless form, Guardiola know his side cannot afford many more slip-ups if they are to challenge for the title this season.
Leeds preview: Worrying run
Leeds took an early lead against Aston Villa last weekend but two second-half goals from Morgan Rogers condemned them to a third straight defeat, leaving them 18th in the Premier League table heading into the weekend.
Across all competitions, Leeds have lost six of their seven away games this season, so something needs to change in their approach if they are to lay a glove on City here.
Man City team news: Only two still missing
Defensive midfielder Mateo Kovacic and Rodri are the only injury absentees reported by Guardiola, with the latter expected back in the near future.
The starting line-up will look much similar to that which faced Newcastle last weekend, as opposed to the XI that took to the pitch against Leverkusen.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez; Silva, Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Unavailable: Rodri (Injured), Kovacic (Injured)
Questionable:
Leeds team news: Midfield setbacks
Daniel Farke has two midfield absentees to contend with as Anton Stach is out with concussion while Sean Longstaff could miss up to two months with a calf injury.
Elsewhere, Sebastiaan Bornauw is a doubt with an MCL issue and Farke will make a late call on the Belgian defender's inclusion.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Tanaka; Aaronson, Nmecha, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin
Unavailable: Longstaff (Injured), Stach (Concussion)
Questionable: Bornauw (Injured)
Man City vs Leeds prediction
Guardiola has come under a bit of criticism for making ten changes ahead of the Leverkusen defeat on Tuesday, and he will be urging his players to deliver a strong response on Saturday.
Fortunately for them, they take on one of the Premier League's strugglers, with promoted side Leeds looking especially vulnerable on the road.
The regulars will come back into the City line-up here, and they should prove much too strong for the visitors.
Man City vs Leeds tip: Man City to win & over 2.5 goals
