Preview: Manchester City vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester City welcome the early Premier League leaders Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for their first home game of the new campaign.

Both sides go into the contest with 100% records so far, Man City beating Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opener last weekend and Leicester picking up two wins from two to rise to the top of the pile.

Match preview

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Manchester City have already seen off their first major test of the new season, laying down a marker in Monday's 3-1 triumph at Wolves to pick up points which eluded them home and away to the same opposition last term.

It was by no means entirely plain-sailing, with Wolves squandering a number of second-half chances which could have earned them something from the game, but considering they were a week behind their opponents in terms of fitness it was a result which would have pleased Pep Guardiola enormously.

Things do not get any easier this weekend, facing the early league leaders and a team that sat above them for a significant chunk of last season before ultimately falling away from the top two.

However, the former champions will be happy to be back home; they have won 10 and lost none of their last 11 Premier League outings at the Etihad Stadium and have won the last seven of those by an aggregate score of 26-1.

Not since 1989-90 have Man City lost their opening home game of a top-flight season, and they were victorious on home territory in midweek too as a Phil Foden strike sent them through to the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

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Leicester saw their own EFL Cup hopes ended with a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Wednesday night, but that is the only negative of what has been an encouraging start to the campaign.

Such a disappointing end to last season raised concerns over whether the Foxes would be able to challenge for Champions League football again, but they now sit in a position they have not occupied since the final day of their unforgettable title-winning season - top of the table.

Of course, Brendan Rodgers will not be paying any attention to the league standings after only two games of the campaign, but it is a position every team would rather be in than not, particularly with Leicester boasting the joint-best attacking record in the top flight at the moment too.

A 3-0 opening-day triumph over West Bromwich Albion was followed up with a 4-2 win over Burnley last weekend, leaving Leicester looking to win their opening three league games of a season for only the fourth time, the first time since 1922-23 and the first time ever in the top flight.

Achieving that feat at the home of Man City would make it all the more momentous and would certainly go some way to proving Leicester's top-four credentials this season, although Rodgers has never won away to Sunday's opponents in his managerial career, while Leicester as a team have lost eight of the last nine meetings home and away.

Manchester City Premier League form: W

Manchester City form (all competitions): WW

Leicester City Premier League form: WW

Leicester City form (all competitions): WWL

Team News

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Guardiola has claimed that he only has 13 fit senior players ahead of this match and suggested that some of the academy products who impressed against Bournemouth in midweek could feature.

Liam Delap - son of Rory - made the headlines with a debut goal against the Cherries, although at best he is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench this weekend along with the likes of Adrian Bernabe, Tommy Doyle and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

One academy graduate who is likely to start is Foden after he scored one and created the other in midweek, but Kyle Walker and perhaps Riyad Mahrez are the only other players likely to keep their place from Thursday night.

Kevin De Bruyne, who has scored seven goals and set up six more in his last 10 league starts, is one of the star names expected to come into the side, despite needing treatment after a heavy challenge during his cameo in midweek.

Man City will also welcome back Raheem Sterling, who has had a hand in 13 goals in 14 league games since the restart in June.

Gabriel Jesus is expected to lead the line in the continued absence of Sergio Aguero, with the Brazilian having scored four goals in five Premier League games against Leicester - a statistic which bodes well for Man City considering they have won the last 32 league games in which he has found the back of the net.

Aymeric Laporte remains a doubt after seeing his preparations disrupted by a positive coronavirus test, while Ilkay Gundogan is undergoing a period of isolation having also tested positive.

Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero also remain sidelined through injury.

Leicester's injury woes are not too much better, with the headline absentee being Wilfred Ndidi after the midfielder was ruled out for up to three months with an adductor injury which requires surgery.

Ricardo Pereira is also a long-term absentee, but Rodgers could be boosted by the timely return of Jonny Evans after suspension - he should slot in as a straight replacement for Ndidi, who had been playing as an emergency centre-back this season.

New signing Cengiz Under will not be ready until next week, while this game is also likely to come too soon for Demarai Gray and Filip Benkovic.

Jamie Vardy will lead the line as ever, having scored five goals in his past eight Premier League appearances against Man City.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Ake, Mendy; Fernandinho, Rodri; Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling; Jesus

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Soyuncu, Castagne; Mendy; Perez, Praet, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy

We say: Manchester City 2-0 Leicester City

We could learn a lot from this match, both in terms of Man City's title credentials and Leicester's hopes of challenging for the top four again.

The Foxes arrive at the Etihad Stadium in fine form and full of confidence, but Man City away remains one of the toughest dates in the calendar and we are backing Guardiola's hosts to come out on top.

Top betting tip

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Video prediction

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