Manchester City play host to Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for an important Premier League encounter. After a dismal show in the month of March and April, the Cityzens have now won 3 consecutive matches and are comfortably placed at the second position in the league, above Arsenal, based on goal difference. Queens Park Rangers, in comparison, are struggling in the relegation zone towards the bottom of the table. While Manuel Pellegrini would want to secure all three points from the match and confine City’s position in the league, QPR might put up a resolute fight, drawing inspiration from their performance last week, against Liverpool.
Team News& Tactical Brief
Manchester City FC
Manchester City FC will look forward to welcome back their most dependable midfielder Yaya Toure into the first team squad against Queens Park Rangers. Yaya Toure was taken off in the second half against Aston Villa two weeks back due to a hamstring strain. The Cote da Ivoire international did not feature in the game last week against Tottenham Hotspurs. Recent reports suggest that Toure is fit and will feature in the match tomorrow. Unfortunately their captain and most dependable defender Vincent Kompany is set to miss yet another tie due to his persisting injury. Manuel Pellegrini is likely to stick to his 4-2-3-1 formation with Toure replacing Fernando in the starting lineup. They will bank heavily upon their main striker Sergio Aguero for goals, who is also in the race to win the Golden Boot award in this seasona s Premier League.
Probable Line-up (4-3-3): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Eliaquim Mangala, Aleksandar Kolarov; Fernandinho, Yaya Toure; Jesus Navas, Frank Lampard, David Silva; Sergio Aguero.
Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers are likely to miss the services of several first team players like, Bobby Zamora, Clint Hill, Mauricio Isla and Steven Caulker due to injury concerns. Missing key members against a formidable team like Manchester City would act as a major deterrent for Chris Ramseya s side who are struggling at the bottom half of the league table. QPR can hope to unsettle City’s defense with their in-form striker Charlie Austin who’s likely to start. Young South Korean left-back Yun Suk-Young could replace Mauricio Isla in defense.
Probable Line-up (4-4-2): Robert Green; Nedum Oduoha; Darnell Furlong, Richard Dunne, Caulker, Yun Suk-Young; Matt Phillips, Joey Barton, Sandro, Karl Henry; Leroy Fer; Charlie Austin.
Key Stats
- Queens Park Rangers have lost last 7 out of 10 matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have won their last 5 home games convincingly scoring 15 goals.
- The Cityzens have remained unbeaten in the previous 5 ties against Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League.
- Queens Park Rangers have conceded the maximum number of goals in the Premier League this season, 61.
Key Players
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero is the most important player for Manchester City in this game. The Argentine is at the of the goal scorers list in the league and he is the frontrunner to bag the crown. He holds the ability to impose a huge threat on any defense. Manuel Pellegrini will heavily bank upon his star forward to shine and guide the team to a comfortable victory over a relatively easier opponent like Queens Park Rangers. In the absence of several main team defenders, the away side will have tough times to handle the Argentine goal machine.
Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers)
Charlie Austin has been simply spectacular this season for an extremely below average side. The English forward has scored 17 goals in this season out of his teama s 39 and provided 4 assists. Charlie Austin is his teama s only hope to impose at least some threat on opponenta s defense. In the absence of his strike partner Bobby Zamora, Austin will expect help from young Dutch attacking midfielder Leroy Fer for quality balls.
Final Prediction
Manchester City FC 3 Queens Park Rangers 0
Manchester City is expected to win this game against minnows Queens Park Rangers with a convincing margin. With the firepower they have upfront the Cityzens should score at least 3 goals past a relatively weaker defense. Queens Park Rangers will miss the services of several first team defenders like Caulkner, Isla and Clint Hill due to injury. Ex-Manchester United man Rio Ferdinand too will not feature in this game as he has been given a compassionate leave to his wifea s untimely death.