Leeds v Man City Tips: Robin Bairner expects the champions to return in blistering form

Champions Manchester City return to Premier League action on Wednesday evening with a trip to Elland Road to face an out-of-form Leeds.

Pep Guardiola’s side will have to hit the ground running because they have found themselves eight points behind leaders Arsenal, while Newcastle have quietly slipped past them into second spot in the table. Any dropped points now will have a significant impact before their big meeting with the Gunners in mid-February.

Leeds, meanwhile, are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone. Yet, such is the congested nature of the Premier League, a couple of positive results could see them rise into the top half of the table.

Seeking steadiness

Leeds were unpredictable beasts in the first half of the season. Relatively new manager Jesse Marsch regularly struggled to get the best out of his squad, yet they were robust at home and lost just two of three matches, while they sprung a major shock by winning 2-1 at Liverpool in late October.

Indeed, Marsch has found himself under pressure due to the frustrating nature of his team. The American’s job was under serious pressure prior to that victory at Anfield, which was followed up by a spectacular 4-3 home win over Bournemouth and an equally thrilling loss at Tottenham by the same margin.

Now the challenge for Leeds, who lost their most recent mid-season friendly at home to Monaco, is gaining some degree of consistency in their play. That will be no easy task against City.

Unfamiliar territory

Pep Guardiola’s side has been installed at the top of the Premier League in recent times. It is a position they have virtually monopolised for the last two years, so, as they chase a third successive title, they are in something of an alien position.

Pep Guardiola: his team is currently in an unfamiliar position at this stage of the season

Often spectacular, the Etihad club has been undermined by a handful of uncharacteristic results. They were held away to Aston Villa in September and, immediately prior to the World Cup, they lost at home to Brentford. With Arsenal proving rather relentless at the moment, they can scarcely afford another below-par performance.

They returned to action in the EFL Cup last weekend in some style. Erling Haaland took just 10 minutes to notch his 24th goal of the season in a 3-2 home victory over Liverpool. There is a sense that the Norwegian will be unstoppable after a month’s rest and that would be worrying news for City’s Premier League rivals.

City’s run to continue

If last season’s results are anything to go by, this should be no contest. Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds lost 11-0 over two matches to City last season, which included a 4-0 defeat in April. City at -1.5 on the Asian Handicap market is a nice looking bet at 1.61. 

Perhaps even better value, though, is City to win and over 2.5 goals to be scored in the match at 1.72. This selection would have been a winner in eight of City’s 10 Premier League wins this season. 

Erling Haaland, meanwhile, is 3.7 to score first in the city of his birth, which judging by recent form is another tempting bet. He is also on offer at 1.62 to score anytime. 

Leeds v Man City Tips

Back Man City to win and over 2.5 goals @ 1.72