Manchester City have endured a worrying spell of form off-late failing to muster a single victory in their last six games in all competitions. Pep Guardiola will hope his side end their rut at the Hawthorns on Saturday when they face Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion.
After enjoying a bright start to Pep Guardiola’s maiden campaign in England, Manchester City now appear to be on a downward spiral compounded by defeat in Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash against Manchester United. Although Guardiola has spoken about how he didn’t prioritize the competition as high as City’s other commitments, the loss to their bitter rivals would have done little to boost their deflated morale from recent outings.
With the loss to Jose Mourinho’s United, Guardiola extended his win-less streak to six games, the longest run he has suffered in that regard in his managerial career so far. That said, he’ll be itching to get the bad spell out of the way with a positive outing against Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion.
Team News and Tactics
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola will be pleased with the swift return to fitness of star players Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany and he’s likely to fit the former straight into the starting XI for some much needed creative boost. The Citizens haven’t been particularly poor in their last few games but it’s their failure to put away their chances that has cost them dear.
After missing the previous two games, Pablo Zabaleta could return to the scene at the Hawthorns on Saturday. Aguero, who came on as a substitute in the Manchester Derby, could return to the first team once more in Guardiola’s bid to add more firepower to his attack and secure his side the crucial three points. The boss will also have one eye on Barcelona’s visit to the Etihad three days later as they look to revive their Champions League campaign after a draw and loss in the two games following their opening win against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Guardiola isn’t expected to make any drastic changes to his playing style as he sticks to the 3-2-2-3 he has put to effect at the club. Manchester City will assess the fitness of De Bruyne before a decision is made regarding his participation in the game. Judging by the positive response from the Spaniard in his press conference, we can expect the Belgian to make the line-up teaming up with David Silva in the attacking midfield positions.
Ilkay Gundogan has been very impressive for the Blues bringing his flair from the Black and Yellow of Dortmund and cementing a starting place in recent weeks. He will partner Fernandinho in the defensive midfield positions and with the Brazilian playing the holding role, it gives the German international the license to occasionally drift forward and get involved in the build-up play and potentially add more goals/assists to his tally following his maiden strike against Bournemouth.
Possible Starting XI (3-2-2-3): Bravo, Zabaleta, Kompany, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Gundogan; De Bruyne, Silva; Sterling,Aguero, Sane.
West Bromwich Albion
After a narrow 2-1 loss to Liverpool last weekend, a visit from the Premier League leaders isn’t the most thing for Tony Pulis’ team but if their season so far has been any indicator, they’re not one to shy away from the big guns. Despite limited activity in the transfer market, the club’s star acquisition in Nacer Chadli has brought about a significant change in their attacking output.
The Welsh boss is expected to continue keeping Saido Berahino in the sidelines up until he regains his full fitness after he returned from the international break over-weight. Claudio Yacob will serve a one match suspension and will miss the Citizens’ visit on Saturday. Meanwhile, star defender Jonny Evans returns to the side having served his one-match ban that kept him out of the Baggies’ visit to Liverpool.
In the absence of Yacob, former Manchester United defender Darren Fletcher could take up the reigns in centre-defensive midfield. After a decent outing last week against Liverpool, Chris Brunt is expected to keep his place over James Mclean in the side. The Northern Irishman often troubled Liverpool with his delivery from corners and his service to Salomon Rondon could easily help alter the fortune in favour of the Baggies.
Possible Starting XI (4-5-1): Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Phillips, Chadli, Fletcher, Gardner, Brunt; Rondon.
Key Stats
- Sergio Aguero has scored five times in eight games against West Brom in the Premier League, but only one of those goals has come at the Hawthorns.
- Only against United (11) has Pulis lost more Premier League games as a manager than against City (10, level with Chelsea).
- Guardiola has failed to win any of his last three Premier League games (D2 L1) – he last went four league games without a win as manager in May 2009 (with Barcelona).
- Pulis has won one of his 15 Premier League games against City (D4 L10), doing so with Stoke in January 2009. His sides have scored only six goals in those 15 games and never more than once in a game against the Citizens, conceding 29.
- West Brom have lost their last nine Premier League games against City. The only Premier League side they’ve ever lost more in a row against is Chelsea (11, 2002-2011).
Player to watch out for
Manchester City : Sergio Aguero
Having failed to find the net on his last few outings, Aguero couldn’t have asked for a better team to revive his scoring touch than West Brom having scored 5 times in 8 past encounters against the Baggies. The Argentine has already scored 11 goals in 12 appearances despite his lack of scoring form in recent weeks hence, one can only imagine how good he’d be with his murderous touch and form.
Betting Tips
Favourable Bets:
1. WBA Asian Handicap +1.0, 1.5 @1.850
2. Over 3.5 Cards @ 1.75
Underdog Bets:
1. Rondon to score anytime @ 4.00
Prediction
West Brom 1-2 Manchester City
The Citizens are well overdue a result now, having gone 6 games win-less. They are holding on to the top spot by the skin of their teeth and any shortcomings at the Hawthorns on Saturday, the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal will be keen to pounce on it and establish clear daylight between each other at the top. A result will do Guardiola’s side a world of good going into the big Barcelona clash during midweek in the Champions League.