With so many footballers out with Covid-19 as well as injuries and with so many games being suspended as a result; I suppose we have to count ourselves lucky at this moment in time…
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| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).
Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:
_______________________________________________
Foden_____________________________________Silva
____________________De Bruyne__________________
__________Grealish_____________Gundogan________
______________________Rodri_____________________
Zinchenko________________________________Cancelo
____________Laporte____________Dias_____________
_____________________Ederson____________________
Subs: Steffen, Walker, Ake, Stones, Fernandinho, Palmer, Sterling, Mahrez, Gabriel.
Pep was unable to give a truly accurate picture in his pre-match press conference on Thursday 23th December about who would be ‘fit ‘n’ available’ and that was due to the fact that they, at that moment in time, had yet to have a training session following our last game and, therefore, he was unable to fully assess his players.
That includes recently-absent Kyle Walker, who has been absent through illness / not deemed fit enough in recent games, which was something that confused me somewhat pre-Newcastle because, apart from Ferran Torres, we were informed by our manager that everyone else was fit ‘n’ available for that game.
Subsequently, Kyle didn’t even travel to the North East with his teammates. Weird.
Additionally, Pep mentioned on the 23rd…‘the great unknown’; that being the fact they, like every other football club, are testing daily for Covid-19 and, therefore, we may lose players or staff between his press conference and the 3:00pm KO (GMT) on Boxing Day.
So, here’s my best guess…
Ederson should, at least and Covid permitting, not be a hard one to ‘stick in there’ as our ‘Number 1’.
I can only think that Kyle is getting better from whatever illness it is that’s kept him out but I’m guessing that he may not yet be fully ‘up to speed’ to make the ‘starting 11’ just yet. Therefore, I’m going for the same back-4 that faced Newcastle last weekend, which looks like Oleksandr, Aymeric, Ruben and, one of the stars of the season so far, Joao.
Rodders to ‘go again’ also as our defensive midfielder but ahead of him, I think we might see a few changes and, so, I’m going for a fluid, interchangeable 5 of Phil, Jack, Kevin, who might get a more-advanced, central role, Ilkay & Bernardo.
Zack is the reserve keeper; Kyle, Nathan & John are the defensive replacement options from the side. Fernandinho, Cole, Raheem, Riyad & Gabriel are the midfield / wing / attacking change-possibilities in ‘the 9’.
Still just 3 substitutions allowed as I type this; something that’s being debated by clubs and Premier League officials during the pandemic/Omicron variant surge with regards to-possibly increasing that number to 5, once again, on a temporary basis for now at least (Pep has stated that he would like 5 substitutes to become ‘the norm’ in England’s ‘top flight’, at least)…
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Ferran Torres – On his way back from a long-term injury…and also on his way out of the club in a January transfer to Barcelona; as it sounds like negotiations are in an advanced stage.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? The signs are a little ominous for our visitors in a lot of ways - a side that have 9 players either definitely out or doubtful by various degrees. Some of those players might not be considered necessarily regular / vital components but a few most-definitely are.
Some of those players also took part in a, presumably-exhausting, 3-3 thriller in the League Cup at Anfield as recent as Wednesday 22nd December and, therefore, will have had 3-days less recovery time than us. That game was decided by penalties in the end, which Leicester lost 5-4. That, I’m sure, wouldn’t have done their mood much good on top of all that.
They also sit 9th in the league and a whopping 22 points behind us, although they have played 2 games fewer. Their recent league form is also all over the place – L W D L W – and they have conceded as many as they’ve score (27 in 16 games).
Having said all of that, we shouldn’t be complacent, of course - Brendan Rogers’ Leicester are characteristically hard working and are good / fast ‘on the counter’.
All things considered, though, a (presumably) fully fit ‘n’ firing Manchester City squad against a team hit with so many issues is only gonna have one outcome in my opinion.
Put it this way, I don’t think we’re going to see a repeat of last season’s showing when we faced The Foxes at the Etihad; in fact, we could see something similar reverse-wise. It’s a home win from me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Lost
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: Dark skies and a real murky feel to the day. A little chilly, at 5C, with a light, easterly breeze to ensure that 5-degrees feels ‘just that’, or lower. A chance of some light rain / mizzle too; both during the game as well as ‘either side of’.
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