Preview
Manchester City will welcome Leeds United to Etihad on Saturday afternoon with the aim of further consolidating their status as champions-elect. The Citizens are 10 points away from winning their second title in three years and until something extraordinary happen, they should be able to sail to the first of the quadruple within their reach this season. At the moment, 14 points separate Pep Guardiola's men and their closest title contenders Manchester United.
The former approach the weekend's home meeting with Leeds on the back of a three-game winning run in the premiership since falling to a 2-0 defeat against the Red Devils. Within the period, they have successfully beaten Southampton, Fulham and Leicester City, scoring not less than twice against each of these sides. In broader perspective, they have registered just one defeat in their last 28 outings with the remaining 27 games being wins. Prior to losing to Manchester United last month, City were without defeat since the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in November 2020.
Although they have a crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg meeting with Dortmund to take care of on Wednesday, Man City are expected to come at Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds with all guns blazing. Needless to say, the Peacocks will not make the test easy for the Etihad outfit, as it was the case in the 1-1 draw between the pair earlier this season. Provided results from elsewhere go in their favor, the visitors could well compete for a place in the Europa League next season and being well aware of this fact, they will go to City seeking a favorable result.
Last weekend, the Bielsa's side extended its unbeaten run in the premiership to three after defeating Sheffiled United 2-1 at Elland Road. Prior to that, the Whites had subjected Fulham to a 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage and managed after securing a point in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This, without doubt, gave the club a bit of a facelift after losing four of the five games they played prior to the trip to London.
The objective will be to keep the current trend going but as to whether Marcelo Biesla can get the better of his apprentice in Pep Guardiola remains to be seen on Saturday. The stakes remain high for both clubs and, as such, the outcome will boil down to who really want the win the most.
Key stats
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Manchester City will host Leeds for a Premier League match for the first time since December 2003. The meeting ended in a 1-1 draw.
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Leeds have only won one of their seven away Premier League matches against Man City (D4 L2).
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Manchester City are unbeaten in each of their last 41 Premier League games against newly promoted sides at the Etihad Stadium (W36 D5).
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Leeds United's total of 42 points from 30 Premier League games is their best tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2001-02 (51 pts), when they finished fifth.
Team news
Manchester City have no injury concerns and will have a full squad at their disposal when they welcome Leeds to Etihad Stadium on Saturday. For the visitors, Adam Forshaw is still unavailable for and so is Jack Harrison as he is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Predicted starting XI
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Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Mendy; B Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, Jesus
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Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, Alioski; Costa, Phillips, Roberts, Dallas, Raphinha; Bamford.
Broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
