Manchester City vs Stoke City – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Sreya

Manchester City hosts Stoke City at the Etihad on 23rd April, Saturday as Manuel Pellegrini’s side push for a top three finish in the English Premier League. A 1-1 draw at Newcastle United after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Chelsea while Arsenal returned to winning ways against West Bromwich Albion condemned the Manchester-based club to fourth position with sixty one points after thirty four matches.

Stoke City are on the ninth position with forty seven points, courtesy thirteen wins in their domestic campaign so far. Having failed to win five of their last six league matches, Stoke City are in dire need of points to maintain their position in the top half of the league table. The Potters fell to a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in their last match.

Team News

Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna have been ruled out with injuries while Samir Nasri is set to face a late fitness test. Manuel Pellegrini is likely to rest a few of his first-teamers keeping an eye on the impending UEFA Champions League semi-final next Tuesday.

Stoke City have a number of absentees with Erik Pieters suspended and Jack Butland, Glen Johnson, Jonathan Walters and Xherdan Shaquiri sidelined through injuries. Marc Wilson has been listed as a doubt.

Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup: Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Elaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi, Aleksandar Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Fabian Delph, Samir Nasri, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Kelechi Iheanacho.

Stoke City Possible Starting Lineup: Shay Given, Geoff Cameron, Ryan Shawcross, Philipp Wollscheid, Marc Muniesa, Giannelli Imbula, Glenn Whelan, Bojan, Ibrahim Afellay, Marko Arnautovic, Mame Biram Diouf.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“Every game in the Premier League is intense and if you don’t keep it up for 90 minutes you don’t win games. It is very important now to make some rotation as we play at the weekend and then Real Madrid next Tuesday.”

– Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City.

“We’ve sat down and talked about what we need to do better. My feeling is that we’ll be fine and get back to what we need to do to win Premier League games.

It may not be enough if Manchester City perform, but I’m looking for a better performance in terms of executing a game plan – which we haven’t done well enough in the last two games.”

– Mark Hughes, Stoke City.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, the previous six encounters between these two clubs have resulted in three wins and two losses for Manchester City. Manchester City have seen under 2.5 goals in five of their last six matches against Stoke City in all competitions. Stoke have conceded at least 2 goals in their last three Premier League matches.