Manchester City vs Leicester Prediction: Routine victory for the Citizens

Manchester City will be hoping to get back on the winning trail in the Premier League when they welcome strugglers Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday (19:45). The Citizens were in FA Cup action at the weekend as they booked their place in the semi-finals by beating AFC Bournemouth.

Leicester are on a downward spiral with no hope of salvation in their bid to stay in the top flight. The Foxes have lost 13 of their previous 14 league encounters and it is difficult to see their fortunes changing at the home of the current champions. Read on for my Manchester City vs Leicester predictions, featuring the latest match odds and team news.

Football Odds

Team News

City look set to be without with their star striker Erling Haaland, who was forced off at Bournemouth with a knee injury. The Norwegian was then seen leaving the stadium in a protective boot with crutches. In his absence, Pep Guardiola should task Omar Marmoush with leading the line.

The Egyptian bagged the winner on Sunday so he will be raring to go against the wailing Foxes. Nico O'Reilly, who set up both goals in the 2-1 victory at the weekend, will stake his claim for a place in the starting XI, which would be his first in the Premier League.

Rodri, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and John Stones are the other City players confined to the treatment room.

Leicester remain without the services of winger Abdul Fatawu due to a serious knee injury that will not see him return until next season.

Ricardo Pereira missed the defeat to Manchester United before the international break, but there is hope the Portuguese defender can return to the squad for the trip to the Etihad. Boss Ruud van Nistelrooy gave an update in his press conference on Monday.

He said: "He’s [Pereira] doing really well, hopefully we can get him on the training pitch with the team today and tomorrow and see if he’s ready for Wednesday.”

Apart from that, the Foxes have a clean bill of health, which is exactly what they need if they are to turn their fortunes around.

Manchester City vs Leicester Odds

Man City have won three of their past five home games in the league and they are the 1/5 favourites here. You will find better value in backing them to win to nil at 21/20 (which has an implied probability of 48.8%) because Leicester have failed to score in six consecutive games.

This makes the both teams to score -no market, as well as a Man City clean sheet, attractive selections at 10/11 and 19/20 respectively.

City's last result here was a 2-2 draw with Brighton, and the stalemate is priced at 6/1.

Leicester have just won two of their 14 away trips this campaign and are on a losing streak of six matches. That's why they are 14/1 to pull off an upset in M11.

Man City to win to nil @ 21/20

Guardiola's men did well to come from behind to beat Bournemouth on Sunday in the FA Cup, but they really shouldn't have been behind in the first place. Haaland had a penalty saved before he squandered a great chance from open play just moments later.

O'Reilly was the architect of their victory and he might be rewarded with his first league start for the Citizens against one of the worst sides in the division. As much as Man City have blown hot and cold this term, beating Leicester should be routine.

The Foxes look devoid of ideas and have failed to score a goal in their last six matches. A run of 13 defeats from 14 is not healthy and Leicester are currently nine points adrift of safety with just nine games left to play.

Right now it seems only a miracle can save them, but that is not going to come at the home of the reigning champions, in my opinion. This should be comfortable for the home side, and the scoreline is likely to reflect that.

Omar Marmoush anytime goalscorer @ 7/10

Marmoush will relish the opportunity to be the main man up top for City in Haaland's absence, and I predict that he can cause several headaches for Leicester's fragile defence on Wednesday.

The forward was on the scoresheet at the weekend in what was his fifth in all competitions since joining the Citizens from Eintracht Frankfurt in the latest transfer window.

Four of them have come in the Premier League in seven outings. In the most recent draw with Brighton, Marmoush was his team's best player as he recorded a goal and an assist against the Seagulls.

He will come into this contest with great confidence, and I will be surprised if I don't see his name on the scoresheet.

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