Manchester City travel to Leicester City on a dismal run of one win in their past 13 matches across all competitions, but life is not going too well for their hosts, either.
Leicester have lost each of their past three matches under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and fell into the relegation zone after Wolves’ Boxing Day win over Manchester United.
Van Nistelrooy enjoyed himself at City’s expense during his playing days with six goals in Manchester derbies, and he’d love to become the latest coach to claim Pep Guardiola’s scalp during this ongoing slump.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news and predicted lineups.
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Leicester vs. Man City lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Jamie Vardy sat out the 3-1 loss to Liverpool with a knock. The veteran striker will be desperate to return and add to a handsome career record of nine goals against City.
Patson Daka will continue in attack if Vardy doesn’t make it, while Ricardo Pereira (thigh), Mads Hermansen (groin), Wilfred Ndidi (thigh) and Abdul Fatawu (knee) remain sidelined. Wout Faes is also expected to be out with an injury sustained in the loss to Wolves.
Jordan Ayew, who scored at Anfield, is suspended for this game.
Leicester predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Stolarczyk (GK) — Justin, Okoli, Vestergaard, Kristiansen — Winks, Soumare — El Khannouss, Buonanotte, Mavididi — Vardy
Injured: Pereira, Hermansen, Ndidi, Fatawu, Faes, Vardy (doubt)
Suspended: Ayew (yellow-card accumulation)
MORE: All the latest Man City news
Kyle Walker (illness) and Jack Grealish (muscular) sat out the Everton game and will be assessed alongside fellow absentees Matheus Nunes and Ederson.
Defensive injuries have arguably been just as big a problem for City as Rodri being out for the season. John Stones and Ruben Dias remain sidelined, although Nathan Ake was only substituted as a precaution against Everton on his return from a hamstring injury and will probably be asked to go back to the well once more.
Savinho and Jeremy Doku started as a dual wing threat last time out, although Guardiola might take a more circumspect approach away from home. Kevin De Bruyne was feeling the effects of a virus on Boxing Day but is likely to return to the starting XI.
Man City predicted lineup (4-1-4-1, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol — Kovacic — Foden, De Bruyne, Silva, Grealish — Haaland
Injured: Stones, Dias, Nunes, Ederson, Walker (doubt), Grealish (doubt)
Suspended: None
Leicester vs. Man City live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Peacock |
| Canada | — | Fubo |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky Go, Sky Sports website |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Star Sports Select 1 | Disney+ Hotstar, JioTV |
