Man City Set to Clash with Leeds: Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed

Manchester City look to bounce back from consecutive losses as they welcome Leeds United in Premier League action this Saturday.

The Citizens were hoping to maintain their pursuit of league leaders Arsenal last weekend, but their loss at Newcastle United damaged their hopes for a ninth Premier League title. Making things worse, Pep Guardiola's rotated squad then suffered a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, dropping them to ninth place in the Champions League table.

Facing Leeds presents Man City with a chance to return to winning ways following back-to-back disappointments, and they'll enter as heavy favorites not just to claim victory this weekend, but to thoroughly dominate their newly-promoted opponents.

The teams last met in 2023, with City winning their previous four encounters against the Yorkshire club—highlighted by an impressive 7–0 triumph in December 2021. However, the Whites had previously defeated them that same year, securing a 2–1 home victory against 10-man City thanks to a Stuart Dallas double.

Leeds will hope to claim another major upset at the Etihad Stadium, though their current form indicates they'll face significant challenges. They've suffered defeat in five of their past six fixtures and have dropped into the relegation zone on goal difference.

Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of the encounter.

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Man City vs. Leeds Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

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Man City Team News

City cannot attribute their recent struggles to injury problems, with just two players currently unavailable. Both absences are in midfield, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who remains out with a muscle problem picked up earlier this month.

Mateo Kovačić is City's other injured player and has been unavailable since late October due to an ankle problem.

Guardiola made extensive changes to his usual starting eleven for the loss to Leverkusen, with players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias, Phil Foden, Jérémy Doku and Erling Haaland all relegated to the bench. This group will be among those returning to the starting lineup on Saturday.

Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Leeds

Man City predicted lineup vs. Leeds (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; González; Cherki, Silva, Foden, Doku; Haaland.

Leeds Team News

Leeds also face two fitness concerns ahead of their Etihad visit, with summer signings Anton Stach and Sebastiaan Bornauw both questionable for the City match. Stach sustained a head knock in last weekend's loss to Aston Villa while Bornauw has been absent since mid-October.

Ao Tanaka came off the bench to replace Stach against Villa and is expected to start alongside Ethan Ampadu in the middle of the park. Sean Longstaff will join them to provide additional defensive cover.

Lukas Nmecha, who has found the net in his previous two appearances, will spearhead the attack once again against his former team.

Leeds Predicted Lineup vs. Man City

Leeds predicted lineup vs. Man City (4-5-1): Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Longstaff, Ampadu, Tanaka, Okafor; Nmecha.

Man City vs. Leeds Score Prediction

City approach Saturday's match in disappointing form but should return to winning ways in convincing fashion against the struggling Leeds. Guardiola's team scored five against Burnley in their only previous meeting with a promoted side this campaign and the Citizens should build a comfortable margin against Daniel Farke's troubled squad.

Leeds possess the third-poorest defensive record in the Premier League and have been defeated in five of their six road matches. Unless their hosts suffer a dramatic collapse, the Whites should endure another loss.

Prediction: Man City 3–1 Leeds