Leicester City vs Manchester City
There’s always added pressure on the Premier League champions.
Opponents lift their game when they face the country’s top team and have the opportunity to claim a prized scalp.
Now after two defeats in three, Manchester City do not need SBOBET fans to tell them they are under pressure.
The Premier League 2018 highlights reel could easily contain a chapter of its own on City’s aesthetically pleasing moments but now is a time when they need to get back to winning ways, regardless of style.
Talking Points
Arguably the shock Premier League 2018 news stories of the season so far came on Saturday.
First City were beaten at home for the first time since April when they lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace – the second loss of their past three Premier League games and as many as in their previous 61 combined.
Then Chelsea suffered a 1-0 reverse at home to Leicester, a Jamie Vardy inspired Leicester – on his 250th appearance for the club – as the tenacious frontman returned from injury.
Vardy has scored 13 goals in his last 15 Premier League appearances against the ‘big six’.
Now City travel to meet the Foxes and will be wary of Vardy and Co. Pep Guardiola’s men need to win after losing their lead at the top of the table and slipping four points behind new leaders Liverpool.
It’s a quick return to the King Power Stadium for City who triumphed in a penalty shoot-out last week in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
With the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva all to return, not to mention the return of Riyad Mahrez (who, along with Vardy, was considered the talisman of Leicester’s 2016 title success before his £60 million move to City), the visitors should feel confident of what lies ahead.
However, as much as the star names receive the plaudits, the loss of Fernandinho was evident in their defeat to Palace and the understated Brazilian is often key to making them tick.
Leicester can be a difficult place to go and, after a barren run, it remains to be seen how the victory at Stamford Bridge has rejuvenated them.
Claude Puel’s team could be forgiven for putting football to one side after the recent tragedy. Yet the best tribute they could make to former chairman VichaiSrivaddhanaprabhaand the four others killed in October’s tragic helicopter crash would be to finish as high as possible in the table.
Currently ninth, they are in contention to finish as the ‘best of the rest’ outside the established top six.
That may ease some of the criticism from those who have been calling for manager Claude Puel to be removed from his post – perhaps under appreciating his impact.
As well as Puel and Vardy, there is also James Maddison who has created 41 goalscoring chances in the Premier League this season, more than any other English player.
City are unlikely to be complacent. Quite frankly, they can’t afford to be.
History
Guardiola’s first ever game against Leicester left him and his team with a bloodied nose.
In fact, the then champions were 4-0 up at one stage, again inspired by Vardy, before City pulled two goals back in a memorable 4-2 victory for the home side.
That was the first time since 1988 that Leicester had beaten City.
City have won the last five meetings (two in a penalty shoot-out after League Cup ties ended level), including a 2-0 success last season when de Bruyne scored one of the contenders for goal of the season.
Overall, City have won 58 of their meetings with 29 wins for the Foxes and 29 draws.
Betting Tip
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Leicester City vs Manchester City | Manchester City Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.09 |
| December 26, 23:00 (GMT+8) |
The weekend’s results may have increased the pressure on the champions but they haven’t altered my prediction.
Looks like the Premier League 2018 betting odds haven’t shifted much either, judging by 1X2 odds on City @ 1.36 and Leicester @ 7.20.
The draw @ 4.50 will appeal to some.
Total goal 4-6 @ 2.81 will also tempt some of you, while a repeat of last season’s scoreline – correct score 0-2 @ 6.60 – offers a good pay-out.
A repeat of the 4-2 scoreline from two seasons ago is a massive @ 225.00.
Asian Handicap betting odds -1.50 Man City @ 2.06 and +1.50 @ 1.84 will be worth a punt, depending on which side you fancy to prevail, as will over 3.00 goal @ 2.05.
I expect the champions to bounce back from their first home league defeat of the campaign.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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