Manchester City – Leeds : Preview & Prediction
Reigning English champions Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League (PL) after just 24 hours away following a comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday. On a historic night, goalscorer Erling Haaland netted his 35th league goal, a record in a single PL campaign, and with City now victorious in 11 of their last 12 league appearances, a fifth title under Pep Guardiola looks more likely than ever.
A run of 14 consecutive Etihad wins in all competitions suggests this will be another regular home triumph for the title favorites, especially with City going into the break on top on the scoreboard without conceding and/or winning both halves in each of the four that came before their midweek success.
A 2-0 win over Newcastle in early March is also the last time City failed to score at least three times in a game at home. Clearly, that’s terrible news for a Leeds United side threatened by relegation in transition and boasting the league’s most permissive defense, prompting fears that they will suffer a similar avalanche to their 7-0 win at the Etihad Stadium in December 2021.
But with new manager Sam Allardyce now in charge, there is renewed hope that the defensive collapses of late will become a mere memory. The man widely known as “Big Sam” on the terraces is also seeking personal redemption, having lost his never-relegation tag as a manager in the PL in 2021, when he commanded West Brom’s relegation.
However, the fact that Leeds’ new specialist fire-fighting coach has lost all four of his previous personal clashes against Pep Guardiola strongly suggests that any “redemption” will be delayed at best, especially with all those defeats seeing his then side concede three or more goals.
Players to watch: Now aiming to become the first player in 62 years to break the 40-goal barrier in an English top flight season, Haaland bagged a second-half brace during December’s 3-1 G 3-1 win over Leeds. Meanwhile, visiting winger Jack Harrison once again faces his former team, and has seen all nine of his previous PL away goal games with the Whites end in victory.
Key stat: Each of Leeds’ three most recent away defeats has seen them concede more than two goals in the second half.
Manchester City – Leeds : Betting Tips
Manchester City – Win Odds: 1.35
