Manchester City head into the weekend four points behind Liverpool for the league lead, but looking again like the juggernaut they truly are. Sunday brings a visit to Huddersfield Town, the league’s absolute bottom side and a team they totally thrashed 6-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Still, City boss Pep Guardiola isn’t taking this match lightly. “Forget the table, the schedule – focus on Huddersfield. It will be freezing and has always been complicated against them,” the Spaniard said. “Focus on what we have to do or else that is the first step to losing points.”
With the Terriers now having sacked David Wagner, this will be the first match in charge for Mark Hudson.
“It’s been an emotional start to the week – there were a few goodbyes but since then there’s been a real focus on the training field ahead of Sunday,” the interim boss said.
“We fully respect what David Wagner has done for Huddersfield Town, and he’s done a lot for me too, as both a player and a coach. A Mark Hudson side will be full of intent and fight. Togetherness is something I really believe in.”
Let’s take a look at what the first team he’ll face could be.
The Bank’s Manchester City Starting XI (4-3-3) Prediction at Huddersfield Town
Forwards: Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling
Midfielders: David Silva, Fernandinho, Bernando Silva
Defenders: Danilo Aymeric Laporte John Stones Kyle Walker
Goalkeeper: Ederson
Manchester City at Huddersfield Town FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, January 20, 1:30 PM local, John Smith Stadium
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 84%, Draw 11% Huddersfield win 5%
Injury Report for both sides: go to this link
Odds via Sport Pesa: Manchester City win 4/27, Draw 29/4, Huddersfield win 19/1
Prediction: City 4, Huddersfield 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.