Premier League
Man City vs Leicester prediction
Leicester City have made an impressive start to the 2020-21 Premier League season with a 3-0 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion followed up by a similar performance in beating Burnley 4-2.
Manchester City weren’t too shabby themselves in beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in their first Premier League game, at Molineux.
I can see an exciting game between these two on Sunday, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to take the game to the visitors, who will be a serious threat on the counter-attack with Jamie Vardy.
The Leicester striker has previously netted a hat-trick versus the Citizens and don’t be surprised to see him net in this one as I am far from convinced that the 2018-19 Premier League champions have sorted out their defence. With Aymeric Laporte set to miss this one, we could see Nathan Ake partnered by any of Fernandinho, John Stones, Eric Garcia or Nicolas Otamendi. Add Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy at full-back and that doesn’t match up too well to the likes of Vardy, Harvey Barnes and Dennis Praet.
City themselves will be without Sergio Aguero and didn’t replace David Silva over the summer, though Phil Foden is finally being trusted by his manager, alongside Kevin De Bruyne in central midfield.
Look for Leicester to play a defensive game and hit Manchester City on the counter-attack, particularly with the likes of the two full-backs bombing forward for the hosts. Rodgers’ side have a clever player in Harvey Barnes to unlock the defence, whilst Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet like to chip in with goals from the middle of the park themselves.
Manchester City’s odds are far too short given their defence and Leicester’s goalscoring start to the season and I see very good value in laying Guardiola’s team. Anything but a certainty but with odds greater than 3/1 it would be a nice payoff if it comes in.
Value bet: Lay Manchester City at 1.31 with Smarkets