Man City v Leeds predictions: Relentless City can maintain title charge

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester City v Leeds United in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Man City win to nil
2pts 5-6 Betfair

Team news

Manchester City
Ferran Torres remains absent and Joao Cancelo is suspended. Ilkay Gundogan is a doubt.

Leeds
Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper and Rodrigo missed out at the weekend.

Match preview

Manchester City have earned a reputation as relentless front-runners and they can pile more pressure on their title rivals by sweeping aside injury-hit Leeds at the Etihad.

There is always a sense excitement when Leeds take on the big teams because they refuse to take a backward step.

But there are obvious risks attached to going toe-to-toe with City and Leeds's chances are reduced by the absence of several key players.

Marcelo Bielsa's team continue to attract plenty of praise and were widely applauded for their performance in a 3-2 loss at Chelsea on Saturday.

They gave Chelsea a stern test despite having to do battle without six senior players, including captain Liam Cooper, influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips and star striker Patrick Bamford.

But the defeat - determined by a controversial late penalty - was a painful one to swallow and it leaves them just five points above the drop zone as they approach a daunting run of games away to City, at home to Arsenal and away to Liverpool.

There is so much to like about Leeds's fearless, energetic approach but their positivity is not generating enough points.

Bielsa's preference for a lean squad leaves them extremely vulnerable to injuries and their nine-man bench at Stamford Bridge featured eight players aged 21 and under.

Leeds are taking a brave stance by providing a pathway for talented youngsters, including 19-year-old striker Joe Gelhardt, who came off the bench against Chelsea and scored his first Premier League goal, but they were unable to see the job through despite investing so much effort into the game.

Bielsa's intense training methods are designed to ensure high fitness levels but it is asking a lot to expect his players to reach the same standards against City just three days later.

A few Leeds players could be running on empty at the Etihad and City are not the sort of side who will let them off the hook.

City had their problems unpicking ten-man Wolves on Saturday but, given the attack versus defence nature of the contest, it was not a physically demanding exercise.

Pep Guardiola has options to change things around with Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden among those hoping for recalls, but he is sure to pick an ultra-strong side.

City have gone into a ruthless mode – reeling off six successive victories – and their tunnel vision should help them to deliver a further three points and a tenth league shutout of the campaign.

Key stat

Manchester City have won their last six league matches

Inside info

Manchester City

Penalty taker Kevin De Bruyne/Riyad Mahrez
Free-kick wizard Kevin De Bruyne/Riyad Mahrez
Set-piece aerial threat Aymeric Laporte
Card magnet Rodri

Leeds

Penalty taker Raphinha
Free-kick wizardRaphinha
Set-piece aerial threatDiego Llorente
Card magnetJunior Firpo

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