Two rounds away from Wembley…

…sees us head to Premier League opposition and an opportunity to see some strong players return following injuries. 

 

Straight to it before tonight’s game...

v Leicester City

King Power Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

___________________Aguero____________________

Sterling________________________________Mahrez

____________Foden_________De Bruyne__________

__________________Gundogan__________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Danilo

___________Kompany_______Stones_____________

____________________Muric_____________________

Subs: Ederson, Laporte, Delph, Walker, B. Silva, Diaz, Jesus.

Having played in the previous 2 rounds, I can’t see our manager changing him for this one – Aro to step in between the sticks.

Oleksandr & the returning [from a niggle] Danilo should take up the left & right-wing back roles; Vinny & John should get the nod in between those.

A chance to rest Fernandinho, I would think, sees Ilkay deputise in the defensive midfield spot with Phil & Kevin the likely starters in the middle ahead of him. Either side of those I think we’ll see Raheem on the left and Riyad get a crack at his old club on the opposite flank.

Sergio to get a returning start I would suggest.

Ederson takes up an unfamiliar seat on the side; Aymeric, Fabian & Kyle provide cover at left, right & centre of defence as well as defensive midfield. Bernardo, possibly Brahim & Gabriel provide more attacking options from ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured long-term and possibly for the rest of the season.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Injured for around another 8 weeks.

-       Nicholas Otamendi – Not selected / rested.

-       Fernandinho - Not selected / rested.

-       David Silva – Recovering from injury and perhaps another week to 10-days away.

-       Leroy Sane - Not selected / rested.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

I do have concerns about Vinny to a small degree with regards to the pace of Jamie Vardy should he be fit (is a doubt apparently) and any other pacey forwards they might have but, apart from that, it’s a good-looking set-up.

Result? It won’t be an easy one, for sure, and I think a lot will depend on how returning [from injury] players cope with their starting places in the ‘blood & thunder’ of a quarter final away game.

However, all things considered with that strong line-up & bench, I think we’ll progress to the semis.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A (didn’t post a blog before the EXACT same fixture in EXACTLY the same round this time last year, which went to penalties after a late, late penalty equaliser by our hosts).

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Wet & blustery throughout and with the pitch having been rained on all day beforehand too, it should make this tie even more interesting; perhaps leading to some mis-timed challenges? I can see a few yellows and possibly more…