Man City to make a flying start against Foxes

Manchester City play host to Leicester on Boxing Day, aiming to maintain first place in the Premier League standings.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been ruthless in recent weeks, winning their previous two top-flight outings 11-0 on aggregate and chalking up eight successive wins.

Against a Leicester side sapped of confidence, there should be no problems here for City to increase that streak to nine. They can be backed at 1.22 to do so, with the draw on offer at 8.2 and a shock away win priced at 16.2.

City in full flow

Manchester City enjoyed a 7-0 win over Leeds in their previous home match, in which they produced some spectacular football. That form, which has made them favourites for the Premier League title, was then reprised in an easy 4-0 success against Newcastle.

Guardiola’s men are the form team in the Premier League, bubbling with confidence and now boasting a three-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the standings.

Additionally, they have the advantage of approaching their Boxing Day clash having had the rare luxury of a midweek break. Furthermore, they are not one of the clubs facing a 48-hour turnaround between festive matches – unlike their opponents, who play Liverpool on Tuesday.

With a short list of absentees, everything seems to point in the direction of another three points on Sunday.

Foxes in trouble

Leicester should have been given a major midweek lift by an EFL Cup victory away to Liverpool, yet they allowed leads of 2-0 and 3-1 to be squandered before suffering defeat in a penalty shootout.

It was clearly a match that manager Brendan Rodgers was targeting. While the Reds rotated, he deployed almost a full-strength squad, with Jamie Vardy, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans among those to the fore.

It could be a tough Boxing Day for Brendan Rodgers' Leicester

With just three wins in their last 11 in all competitions, confidence is at a low ebb. The Foxes, however, can draw heart from their stunning 5-2 win at the Etihad Stadium last season for inspiration. Vardy scored a hat-trick on that occasion.

Matches between these sides, though, have historically been tight affairs, with that the only occasion in the last five that there has been more than two goals scored.

Leaders to make a quick start

Expect Man City to go for blood early. In seven of their last eight Premier League matches, they have been leading at the break, while they have scored in the first 10 minutes of three of their last four.

Meanwhile, the leaders have conceded only one first-half goal all season, meaning that backing ‘No’ for both teams to score in the first half should be given some consideration, even at short odds.

Recommended bet:

Half-time/Full-time: Man City/Man City @ 1.64