Manchester City will look to continue their impressive run of form when they host Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round.
Manchester City are on a winning run right now, and they will look to extend their fine run of form with a home win over Huddersfield Town to reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Meanwhile, the visitors have been quite inconsistent in their last few outings, and they have lost four of their last six matches across all competitions. They will certainly struggle against one of the best teams in the world, especially away from home.
Huddersfield Town will need a major slice of luck in order to grind out a positive result at the Etihad Stadium. They have failed to win any of the last six meetings against the Premier League champions, and this will be an uphill challenge for them.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
John Stones is the only absentee for the home team here. Manchester City are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Stefan Ortega in goal. Kyle Walker and Sergio Gomez will start as the full-backs here. They will look to create goalscoring opportunities for their teammates and protect the central defenders as well.
Manuel Akanji will start at the heart of the defence along with Nathan Ake. As for the midfield unit, the exit-linked Kalvin Phillips will start alongside Rico Lewis in the double pivot. The two players will look to add defensive cover to the side and break up the opposition attacks.
Phil Foden will be the central attacking midfielder here, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack with his creativity and vision. Bernardo Silva and Oscar Bobb will be deployed in the wide areas. Finally, Julian Alvarez is set to lead the line for Manchester City against Huddersfield Town.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gomez; Phillips, Lewis; Silva, Foden, Bobb; Alvarez
Huddersfield
The away side have a number of injury problems. They will be without the services of Oliver Turton, Josh Ruffels, Jonathan Hogg and Danny Ward.
Huddersfield are likely to shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Lee Nicholls in goal. In the back three, Tom Lees will start alongside Michal Helik and Yuta Nakayama. Yhey will look to sit deep and notify the threat from players like Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden in the final third.
David Kasumu and Loick Ayina will start as the wing-backs. They will look to protect the central defence and help out during counter-attacks. As for the midfield unit, Ben Wiles will start along with Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Jack Rudoni.
The three players will look to keep things compact in the middle of the park and help out defensively. They will look to break up the Manchester City attacks and set up transitions. Sorba Thomas will lead the line for Huddersfield along with Josh Koroma.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Nicholls; Lees, Helik, Nakayama; Kasumu, Wiles, Edmonds-Green, Rudoni, Ayina; Thomas, Koroma
Key Stats
- Manchester City unbeaten in the last five matches across all competitions.
- Huddersfield are winless in five of their last six matches across all competitions.
- Manchester City are undefeated in their last seven matches against Huddersfield in all competitions.
- 19 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
- Manchester City have scored 16 goals in their last five matches against Huddersfield.
Player to Watch
Bernardo Silva
The 29-year-old Manchester City midfielder has contributed to six goals and four assists across all competitions this season. He will look to break down the Huddersfield Town defence with his creativity, passing and vision in the final third.
The away side are likely to sit deep and defend. Manchester City will need the Portuguese international to step up and create goalscoring opportunities. He is our key player to watch out for this weekend.
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Huddersfield Town
Manchester City are the overwhelming favourites heading into this contest, and they should be able to book their place in the next round of the competition with an easy win here. Huddersfield Town have a poor record against the Premier League champions, and they will struggle here.
The away side have lost quite a few matches in their recent outings and are up against a side that is on a winning run. Manchester City are a formidable unit despite resting some of their key players, and a 3-0 home win is on the cards here.
