Leicester City vs Manchester City preview: Guardiola wary of Foxes' threat

By Ric Turner, Fri 02 April 2021 15:38


Leicester City vs Manchester City preview: Guardiola wary of Foxes' threatBrendan Rodgers' side beat the Blues 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season

Leicester City vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30 pm, Saturday 3rd April 2021

Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester

Referee: Paul Tierney Assistants: S Bennett, S Long Fourth Official: P Bankes VAR: M Oliver

Odds: Leicester 5/1, Draw 3/1, City 8/15

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Leicester City

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Squad (from): Schmeichel, Ward, Jakupovic, Fofana, Soyuncu, Evans, Amartey, Pereira, Castagne, Fuchs, Thomas, Tielemans, Maddison, Albrighton, Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi, Praet, Vardy, Iheanacho, Perez

Injured: Barnes, Under, Justin, Morgan

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: LDWWW

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ederson, Steffen, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Laporte, Mendy, Cancelo, Garcia, Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Sterling, Jesus, Aguero, Torres, Mahrez

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: LWWWW

City have no new injuries following the international break, meaning manager Pep Guardiola once again has a fully fit squad to select from.

The Foxes beat City 5-2 at The Etihad earlier in the season, and Guardiola warned his players that they will face a difficult task at the King Power Stadium.

“Leicester is a top class team - they can beat us. The depth of their squad... I am impressed,” said the manager at Friday's press conference.

"[They] can play in different ways four in back. Five, one striker, two strikers. They can play good build up because of the keeper. People in between like Tielemans and Maddison - they have the quality," the boss added.

“They can play in different ways. Brendan knows the team and the mood and momentum today decide what they are going to do. We have to adapt.

“You see all the players, they have quality. Ndidi is going well, Tielemans is a top-class player. I remember when Vincent Kompany started talking about how good he was. Vincent as always was right. Top players with quality.

“When you defend deep, they have the quality to find sources. Top class team. We have eight games left and they are third, it means they have done incredibly well. Not just this one. They were champions with Ranieri and always they were there.

“They continue to build a team. I have admiration for all the clubs. They have been doing really well for a long time.”

City won their last game at the King Power stadium 1-0, with Gabriel Jesus scoring for the Blues. Overall City have won 53 of the 105 games played against the Foxes, with 24 draws and 29 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Cancelo, Laporte, Dias, Mendy, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus

Score prediction: Leicester 2 City 2