Manchester City can move up to second place if they beat Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium in Wednesday's Premier League fixture. The Citizens produced a spectacular performance in the reverse fixture in August, they won 4-1 at the time with two goals from Sergio Aguero and another pair from Nolito. However, Stoke City have won two of the last five direct meetings, including a 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium in 2014. Last season Man City lost 2-0 at Stoke and won 4-0 at home.
Manchester City can consolidate their place in the top four on Wednesday, they are on a nine-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, with nine wins and two draws recorded during that run. Victory over the Potters would put Pep Guardiola's men in second place, eight points behind leaders Chelsea. Last weekend they secured a fairly comfortable 2-0 victory at Sunderland, with Aguero and Leroy Sane on the score sheet. Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus remain the only injured players for the home side.
Stoke City are enjoying a carefree mid-table campaign, they are currently ninth with no worries about relegation but no hope for European qualification either. Their recent form shows they have been winning their home matches and losing those on the road. In fact, they have not won an away match since the middle of January, when they beat Sunderland 3-1. Stephen Ireland and Jack Butland remain unavailable through injury, but Xherdan Shakiri could make his return after more than a month on the sidelines.
Probable line-ups:
Man City: Caballero - Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Clichy - Fernandinho - Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane - Aguero
Stoke: Grant - Bardsley, Shawcross, Indi, Pieters - Cameron, Whelan - Arnautovic, Allen, Sobhi - Crouch
My prediction: Manchester City to win 3-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Man City win - 1.25
Draw - 6.50
Stoke win - 15.00
03/09/17, 11:03:56 PM
