MANCHESTER CITY
VS
WEST BROM
Etihad Stadium
21st February, 12.45 GMT
***
Manchester City host West Brom at the Etihad and are under severe pressure to win the game after a week where they failed to win in the Premier League and were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League.
City play a day before their title rivals Chelsea and can reduce the gap to three points if they win against Tony Pulis’ men. However, considering their recent form, the game could be an even one despite the gulf in talent.
Team News and Tactics
Manchester City
Manuel Pellegrini is under increasing pressure as it looks very likely that his side will end up without a trophy this season. Saturday’s game against West Brom could be another tough one especially considering that the Baggies have been in good form. City have had Sergio Aguero fit in recent weeks, but the Argentine has failed to repeat his form from the first half of the season. He led the City attack against Barcelona midweek with David Silva playing behind him and should have given City the equalizer via a penalty but failed in doing so. Aguero has found the back of the net just three times in nine games since his return from the ligament injury and his poor form has been one of the factors in City doing so badly in the last few months.
Despite his poor form, Aguero is expected to lead the line once again against West Brom with Silva playing behind him. Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas are expected to support the duo in the wide areas. In midfield, Yaya Toure and Fernandinho will be expected to form the double pivot in front of the defense, which has looked shaky in the last two months. Vincent Kompany and Elaquim Mangala will be expected to start in defense but will be tested by the West Brom attack that has no shortage of pace in the form of Berahino. Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta are expected to start as the full backs.
Manchester City’s best player in the last few weeks has undoubtedly been Joe Hart who has put in some impressive displays after the failure of City’s defense.
Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Hart; Clichy, Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta; Toure, Fernandinho; Nasri, Silva, Navas; Aguero
West Brom
West Brom will be without goalkeeper Ben Foster, Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe. Foster and Ideye have been key players for West Brom in the last few weeks as Foster has contributed well in defense having kept four clean sheets in the last five games and Ideye is the club’s second highest goalscorer.
Ideye and Berahino have formed a good partnership up front in Pulis’ 4-4-2 formation. West Brom’s strength has been their defending, as it so often is with a side managed by Tony Pulis. With Ideye ruled out, we could see Berahino employed as a single striker with more men in the midfield to counter City who are strong in that area.
Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will partner Craig Gardner in the midfield and we could see Youssuf Mulumbu starting the game to add that bit of muscle in the midfield. St phane SessA?gnon and James Morrison could start as the wide players in a 4-5-1 formation.
Chris Brunt played as the left back in their last game and could once again do so with Craig Dawson playing on the opposite side. Ex-City player Joleon Lescott will partner with Gareth McAuley in the defense. Boaz Myhill will cover for the injured Foster.
Probable XI (4-3-2-1): Myhill; Brunt, McAuley, Lescott, Dawson; Mulumbu, Fletcher, Gardner, Morrison, SessA?gnon; Berahino
Key Facts
- West Brom have picked up one more point than City in the last six games (City: 10, West Brom: 11).
- West Brom have lost nine out of the last ten games against the Champions.
- West Brom haven’t won any of their last nine matches away from home.
- The last six games between the sides have produced as many as 21 goals.
Prediction
Manchester City 1-0 West Brom
With City’s poor form, we could see the a nervy performance by the Champions against West Brom who have been good of late. However, Pellegrini’s men have too much quality and could claim a narrow win.