Man City vs Leicester City Picks and Predictions: New Manager but Same Old Problems for Foxes

Saturday's Premier League fixture features two teams at opposite ends of the table — Manchester City and Leicester City.

Manchester City are currently second in the league and will be hosting the game, while Leicester City sits second-last as visiting dogs.

Despite the new management team at Leicester, their chances of winning this match may not be high. On the other hand, Manchester City will be aiming to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal by securing a full three points.

Check out our Manchester City vs. Leicester City picks and predictions to find out more.

Man City vs Leicester City best odds

Man City vs Leicester City picks and predictions

On Saturday, there are seven Premier League games, with the final one being Manchester City vs Leicester City. 

Bookmakers certainly favor Man City, with odds as low as -600, implying an 85.7% chance of them winning. Man City currently sit second in the league and their midweek victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League was particularly impressive, both in terms of their attacking prowess and their defensive solidity.

Man City's defense, though not as formidable as in previous years, still boasts the second-best record in the Premier League, surpassed only by Newcastle.

This leads us to our best bet for this game: Man City to win to nil, available at +100.

Considering the odds, it presents good value. Leicester has a new manager in Dean Smith, who is a former central defender known for creating defensively strong teams. With the addition of John Terry to the coaching staff, Leicester is likely to adopt a more defense-oriented approach to prevent conceding goals and improve their chances of staying in the Premier League.

We can expect Leicester to play defensively in an attempt to steal a draw, but Manchester City's attacking prowess should prevail. This game is likely to end in a 2-0 or 3-0 victory for Manchester City, making this wager a favorable one at plus odds.

My best bet: Man City to win to nil (+100 at PointsBet)

Man City vs Leicester City side analysis

These are two lineups that are difficult to predict for several reasons. For Manchester City, there's a chance of rotation. Erling Haaland is expected to start, but he may be benched once they have a comfortable lead. Jack Grealish took a knock against Bayern, but he should be fit again and he's been integral to the team since January, making it hard to see him being dropped.

That would leave Bernardo Silva or Riyad Mahrez on the right flank, with Kevin De Bruyne playing behind the frontman. Pep Guardiola may stick to his preferred back four of Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones, although there's a possibility of rotation. Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan are expected to play in midfield.

For Leicester, we can assume a 4-2-3-1 defensive formation as an attempt to thwart Manchester City. In terms of personnel, it's difficult to know exactly who will play, and it's likely that new manager Dean Smith will bring in some players who were out of favor under former manager Brendan Rodgers.

Despite only starting half of the team's Premier League games this season, Jamie Vardy is expected to come in for his leadership and experience. The only other certain name on the team sheet is James Maddison, who has been the club's best player by some margin. It will be up to him to create opportunities for Leicester.

Keep an eye out for the starting lineup announcement, as there may be some surprises.

Man City vs Leicester City Over/Under analysis

The odds of -270 on Over 2.5 goals seem reasonable, considering both teams' seasons. Man City has been prolific in scoring, with an impressive 85.7% of their games at Etihad Stadium seeing Over 2.5. Similarly, Leicester has had a decent attack but a weak defense, with 66.7% of their away games cashing the Over. 

However, despite the evidence pointing towards backing a high-scoring affair, I personally believe that Under 2.5 goals at +240 is a better bet.

Man City had a demanding Champions League game midweek, and that could affect their performance on Saturday. Leicester also has a new manager who is likely to focus on improving their defensive setup. They will aim to slow down the game and limit City's chances, which will also reduce their own scoring opportunities against a team of City's caliber.

I don't see Leicester finding the back of the net at all, while I expect Man City to score either two or three goals. Considering the odds available for the Under, I believe it's the best approach to take.

Man City vs Leicester City game info

Man City vs Leicester City key injuries

Man City: Phil Foden FWR (Out).
Leicester City: James Justin FB (Out), Harvey Barnes LW (Questionable), Youri Tielemans CM (Questionable), Ryan Bertrand LB (Questionable).

Man City vs Leicester City recent form

Teams	Last five matches
Man City	W-W-W-W-W
Leicester City	L-L-L-D-L

Man City vs Leicester City weather

It’ll be cloudy but dry in Manchester with no rain expected and temperatures in the high 50s.

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