John Stones drops out, the return of Riyad Mahrez – Predicted XI: Manchester City vs Leicester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

High-flying Manchester City host a struggling Leicester City outfit in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, as their pursuit for a third consecutive top-flight crown rumbles on.

The hosts for this weekend’s contest are in immaculate form, racking up nine consecutive victories in all competitions, with Bayern Munich the latest side to have their fate sealed by Manchester City.

All signs point towards Saturday’s affair being a comfortable appetiser before the crucial Champions League quarter-final second-leg in Munich, however the Foxes will certainly put up a fight as they look to retain their status in the top flight for next season.

Leicester did provide a scare the last time they visited the Etihad Stadium. The home side found themselves 4-0 up and cruising, but a shock second-half flurry saw the visitors pull it back to 4-3, before Manchester City regained their rhythm and went on to win 6-3.

City will be looking to avoid letting that carelessness into their game this time around, as they attempt to overtake Arsenal in the hunt for the Premier League title.

With nine wins in nine games, City will certainly be aware that this is the level of form they have to maintain if they are to achieve the prospected treble this season. However, with the level the home side are currently performing at, it would almost be a shock if such a feat isn’t achieved this season.

Firing on all cylinders and not looking like slowing down, it will take a gargantuan effort by the away side to deny this unstoppable force. Dean Smith has become the man tasked with tactically outdoing Pep Guardiola on Saturday, as the newly-appointed Leicester City boss replaced Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked from the club earlier this month.

Leicester fans will be hoping the new manager will give them a lift, as they desperately look to claw their way out of the relegation zone in hopes to resume their current eight-year spell in the Premier League.

The reverse fixture may give Leicester some confidence, as City narrowly defeated the Foxes0-1 at the King Power Stadium thanks to a sublime Kevin De Bruyne free-kick, although the result may have been a different one if not for the quick reactions of Ederson.

With that being said, here is the team we predict will be tasked with extending Manchester City’s winning run to 10 and further close the gap on current league leaders Arsenal!

Predicted XI

Ederson will start in goal for Manchester City.

After being left out of the starting eleven on Tuesday against Bayern Munich, which perhaps came as a shock to many, we predict Kyle Walker will return to the back-four and start on the right-hand side of the defensive line.

The formidable Ruben Dias is in immense form and looks irreplaceable in the side at the minute, and we expect him to partner Manuel Akanji in central defence for Manchester City.

Following another phenomenal performance midweek, it will surely be Nathan Ake to complete the back four this weekend.

Rodrigo popped up with an important goal on Tuesday night in typical fashion, with a peach of a strike from outside the area. We expect the Spanish international to continue his run of starts in midfield for Manchester City.

After being replaced for “tactical reasons” in midweek, according to Pep Guardiola, we predict Kevin De Bruyne to start again on Saturday evening.

We expect club captain Ilkay Gundogan to complete the midfield three this weekend.

A surprise omission against Bayern Munich was Riyad Mahrez, who found himself on the bench as Pep Guardiola elected to start Bernardo Silva on the right-wing instead. However, we predict the Algerian to return to the fray and face his former club.

Erling Haaland will start up front for Manchester City, as the goal-scoring sensation looks to break even more records this season.

Speaking of players in spectacular form, Jack Grealish is having a fantastic spell in the side at the minute, with the England international really proving his worth this season. We expect Grealish to start and complete the Manchester City attack.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Laporte, Gomez, Phillips, Bernardo, Palmer, Alvarez.