Rotation policy to bring the best out of City
Manchester City travel to the King Power this Saturday evening in their quest to wrap up the Premier League title. Brendan Rodgers’ men find themselves in a similar position as last term, with a huge opportunity to qualify for the Champions League if they can avoid a dropoff in form. Former City man Kelechi Iheanacho has found the net in each of the Foxes’ last four, making up for Jamie Vardy’s injury hit campaign. Leicester have greater strength in depth and look more assured to maintain their spot in the top four this time around. It can be harder to predict a match coming immediately after the international break, but such is the competition for places in Pep Guardiola’s side the visitors will be chomping at the bit to impress.
Process
The hosts are one of the bigger overperformers this term, sitting seventh in the expected goals standings compared to third in the table. Kasper Schmeichel in his tenth season at the club remains as reliable as ever and has played a key role in their overperformance. Leicester have scored 53, the third most in the division, from chances equating to 47.9 expected goals, with an even larger discrepancy at the back, conceding 38 expected goals against but just 32 in total. Harvey Barnes’ absence has been a big loss but one the Foxes have managed with so far, this is their toughest match that remains, their true top four credentials will be judged in their final three games of the season, where they play Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
This defensively sound Manchester City side are first class, Ilkay Gundogan has been world class week in week out and has set the tone to their title procession. They are 14 points clear and with their Champions League exerts it will be in their best interests to get the league done as soon as possible. They top the lot for goals scored, goals against, expected goals for and expected goals against, too good and the quadruple is on.
Goals?
Due to City’s solidarity it is hard to see a goals angle into this one.
- Leicester have scored in eight of 10.
- Leicester have conceded in seven of 10.
- Leicester have seen both teams score in six of 10.
- Leicester have seen over 2.5 goals in six of 10.
- City have scored in nine of 10.
- City have conceded in five of 10.
- City have seen both teams score in four of 10.
- City have seen over 2.5 goals in five of 10.
The Foxes won the reverse fixture comfortably, but City in their current guise are a different animal.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
A comfortable winner, 2-0 City.