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Manchester City vs. Leicester City, Premier League 2017: Predicted Lineups

Who starts on Saturday? Also, your votes are in!

Manchester City v Crystal Palace - Premier League Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images

The fight for the top-four is not as hot as it was last week: with Arsenal's win against Manchester United and United going through to the Europa League Final, the Red Devils are out of the race. Now it's three teams for two spots: Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

The Sky Blues are in pole position to not only get Champions League qualification, but a third-place finish that guarantees group stage. They need nine points from the final three matches, but seven might be enough depending on Liverpool's results. Pep Guardiola's team looks very close to the target, but they need to get the job done.

On Saturday they welcome Leicester City to the Etihad, and given we've lost the last two games to the Foxes in embarrassing fashion, we really need a great performance and a big win to show we can beat Leicester.

Let's take a look at the probable starting lineups for both teams tomorrow:


Manchester City

Pep Guardiola is yet to name an unchanged team in the Premier League this season, but he might do it for the first time on Saturday. There is absolutely no reason to change the team that dominated and destroyed Crystal Palace seven days ago, given that the squad had a full week of training and none of the starters from last Saturday suffered an injury.

The return of John Stones creates some doubt in the back line, and going with Fernandinho at right-back once again is a risk, but Leicester have a very similar style to Palace, and Guardiola will likely use the same game plan and personnel. The attack-minded midfield with Yaya Touré, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva behind the quick and skilled front three of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané and Gabriel Jesus is capable of scoring against any team, and they'll most certainly play together once again.

Then again, Guardiola hasn't named an unchanged team all season. Maybe this time it happens? We'll know tomorrow.

Predicted XI: Caballero; Fernandinho, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Touré; Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Sané; G.Jesus

Bitter and Blue Lineup: Caballero; Fernandinho, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Touré; Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Sané; G.Jesus

Leicester City

Craig Shakespeare has saved a Leicester season threatened by relegation and will finish the season in a comfortable position thanks to a simple formula: go back to basics. After Claudio Ranieri's sacking, Shakespeare came in and brought back the same starting lineup (without N'Golo Kanté) and tactics that won them the title, and it worked.

Leicester look solid defensively and can score against anyone on the counter, and Jamie Vardy is on fire again. The problem in this match is that two key players in the Leicester machine are out: captain Wes Morgan and midfielder Danny Drinkwater are injured, and Morgan's center-back partner Robert Huth may miss out as well.

But with Vardy and Riyad Mahrez back to form, Wilfried Ndidi looking like a great midfielder and the same style that made them champions, the Foxes can kill City's Champions League hopes and get a shock result at the Etihad. Look out.

Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Benalouane, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, King, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy