…but is it a ‘title decider’?
Trying to keep the answer to that question simple…
…I’d say that there are many difficult games for both sides after today’s top-two clash. However, should we win and keep most of our key players free from injury, then I’d have to say with the form we’re in and with the momentum we have, that we’ll end the season victorious, league-wise. Should we draw this one? I’d say likewise…although, of course, it will be a little tighter to say the least.
Should we lose, then of course tonight’s visitors have it in their own hands to win the league and after a bit of a recent blip; I can’t see them-then tripping up a further time, going off their season so far, and that’s despite, as I say, having some tricky fixtures just as we have.
In a nutshell, therefore, I think this is a ‘must not lose’ game for us tonight.
v Arsenal
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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 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Haaland____________________
Grealish__________________________________Mahrez
____________Silva______________De Bruyne________
_____________________Rodri______________________
Laporte___________________________________Stones
____________Dias_______________Akanji___________
____________________Ederson____________________
Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Walker, Phillips, Gundogan, Palmer, Foden & Alvarez.
Ederson is back between the posts.
I think we’ll see a return of 4 central defenders, with both Ruben & Manuel in their natural positions, while Aymeric & John adopt the left & right berths.
Rodders to patrol that area just ahead of defence.
Will Riyad be rewarded for a hat-trick and a man of the match performance against a Championship side last weekend? I can see that happening – the Algerian’s good form comes in ‘fits and starts’ and if last Saturday was to be the start of another confidence-filled period then our manager will want him in the ranks of the starting 11. If I’m right, I can see him in an attacking midfield / wing quartet with Jack, Bernardo & Kevin.
Erling to start ‘up top’.
Stefan retreats to the bench for this one; Sergio, Rico & Kyle are the defenders on the side – all recognised wing-backs, it’s worth noting. Kalvin, Ilkay, Cole & Phil are the midfielders / wingers on the bench, while Julian is the reserve striker in ‘the 9’.
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Nathan Ake – Injured. As for a return date, all Pep would say during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday 25th April is that hopefully he can come back soon.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? We all know the strengths of both sides – both are dangerous and are having a fantastic season.
I think, for us, it took a little time to regain some proper traction after a good start to our campaign; occasionally stuttering & stalling, as we did, in the first half of the season while our visitors appeared to keep ‘motoring on’; with-just occasional trip-ups that they soon got over before regaining momentum. They’re currently on one of those little glitches right now with 3 draws from their last 3 league games.
So I think it boils down to this – at home, with the form we’re, in comparison to theirs, and-having rested some key players last weekend; this is a City victory. It doesn’t always work out like that, of course, and with this being such a tense & crucial fixture; it might not play-out like that at all. However, that’s what I’m going for – it’s a home win for me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: Win
Result: Won
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: Dry, very little in the way of a breeze and with a reasonable temperature of around 9 or 10C to start off with. However, that temperature will start to drop-off fairly rapidly after the match so fans with a lot of walking to do back to their various destinations might want to consider that before deciding which jacket or coat to put on before the game.
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| Solidarity |
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