For the first time since well before Christmas, Liverpool finds their place at the top of the Premier League usurped by Manchester City. The Reds will now spend the last nine games of the season trying to chase down Man City, which will be an uphill climb, to say the least.
City welcome Watford into Manchester this weekend, for a match that will see boss Pep Guardiola sans several first team players for line-up selection. Central defenders Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are both out due to muscle issues, but the duo have been training.
Star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne suffered a hamstring strain during last weekend’s win at AFC Bournemouth, so he is a doubt for this one while another midfield maestro, Fernandinho, continues recovering from an injury that he suffered in the EFL Final win over Chelsea.
However, there is a good news- defender Benjamin Mendy could finally be in contention for this one!
In switching over to the visitors, it is truly astounding how healthy they have been most of the season. Credit good fortune, and the physicians, for that. Right back Kiko Femenia is the only injury concert here. He’s a doubt due to a hamstring problem.
Manchester City vs Watford FYIs
Kick-off: Saturday March 9, City of Manchester Stadium, 5:30pm (BST), 11:30am (CST)
MCFC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Odds via Bet365: Manchester City 1/7, Draw 13/2, Watford 16/1
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 84%, Draw 11%, Watford win 5%
Prediction: City 3, Watford 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.