Leicester unlikely to roll over for reshuffled Manchester City

EFL Cup quarter-final
Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 7.45pm Tuesday

Manchester City have taken the League Cup seriously enough over the past five seasons to have lifted the trophy three times but that doesn’t make them bankers in their quarter-final tie at Leicester.

Pep Guardiola’s quadruple-seekers go off at odds of 2-5, which would be thin enough for a Premier League assignment.

But with one or two fringe players drafted in for the Citizens, and one or two key injuries, Leicester must have a squeak.

Last season at the same stage of this competition these teams clashed at the King Power and the match ended 1-1 with the champions prevailing in a shootout.

Both Claude Puel and Guardiola made several changes and inevitably that levelled the playing field somewhat. It was a draw then and the 9-2 about a repeat result makes the most appeal.

Guardiola has suggested that Kevin De Bruyne will start, which is great news for the visitors, but after a lengthy injury layoff there is no guarantee he will either finish the 90 minutes or be anywhere near his best. Sergio Aguero is also a doubt, David Silva a definite non-runner and the City boss would like to give one or two more players a well-earned breather.

Puel will also make changes but there is still enough about this fixture to suggest that Leicester won’t be rolled over and can, just as they did last season, make life uncomfortable for their illustrious visitors.

Leicester aren’t in a great run of form having suffered back-to-back defeats to nil by Tottenham and Crystal Palace. The first loss was forgivable, the other a poor result which did little to persuade unconvinced fans that Puel is the man to take the Foxes forward.

The hooking of James Maddison at Selhurst Park didn’t go down well with supporters yet Leicester were unquestionably more fiery with Maddison off and Rachid Ghezzal on and it’ll be interesting to see if Puel’s desire for intensity means he sticks with the Algerian international.

Leicester will err on the cautious side and are generally pretty secure, having conceded only 21 goals in the league this season. Their three outings in this competition have all produced clean sheets with the latest two, against Wolves and Southampton, going to penalty shootouts.

City have also kept clean sheets in their two EFL Cup ties and under 2.5 goals looks a tempting price at 6-4. Leicester’s last five home matches in all competitions have produced just six goals.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 9-2 bet365

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Leicester
Defenders Jonny Evans and Ben Chilwell are out and Jamie Vardy is a doubt. Daniel Amartey is a long-term casualty while Andy King is in the reckoning after a long absence.

Manchester City
David Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo are injured. Sergio Aguero may be on the bench.

Key stat
These clubs are yet to concede a goal in five League Cup ties this season.

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