Connect with us

EPL

The traditional curtain-raiser to English football’s elite will be contested at Wembley Stadium.

FA Community Shield: Leicester vs Man City Preview

Image copyright - Steve Haag Sports

You know what this means right? The Premier League is just a week away!

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Neither side will want to concede here, while both of them would appreciate the confidence and feel-good factor winning the Shield gives you just seven days prior to kickstarting the domestic campaign.

FA Community Shield Final
Saturday 7 August
Wembley Stadium
18:15

To Win (90 min)
Leicester 26/10
Draw 11/4
Manchester City 9/10

To Lift The Cup
Leicester 27/20
Manchester City 53/100

Leicester City

The last time Leicester was involved in competitive action they saw a Champions League place preverbally slip through their grasp. During that game, Leicester looked to be dominating in key areas albeit only managing to register just 47% ball possession.

The Foxes defensive attributes left a lot to be desired and that seemingly continued into their pre-season. In their last six games, Leicester have been punished for their errors but I suppose the silver lining is that they have managed to get onto the scoresheet themselves in all six.

Nevertheless, count out Brendan Rodgers at your peril. And as such, don’t read too much into their early preparation as a serious indicator for the upcoming season. They still have a very classy squad with the ability to upset the odds at the turn of the wheel.

The speed Leicester possesses with the ability to link up with their midfield will always ask questions of any opposition. The addition of Patson Daka has only furthered the quality upfront for Rodgers’ side and the rotation between Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy will be incredibly interesting.

However, the fact of the matter remains…playing City in any competition requires you to be at your best to stand a chance. You know they will dominate the game and you simply must be comfortable with it, knowing that your chance will come and when it does, you have to take it. But if you don’t have a confident defensive base from which you can launch an attempt at goal, you don’t have a chance.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Manchester City

Something rather compulsive about this game is while you have a Leicester side comfortable to not have the ball – failing to convert last time out – in City you have an outfit who thrives off possession and yet also failed to convert last time out (enter Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea).

City are cerebral assassins and serial winners, they want to win everything in front of them and they have the squad depth and manager to do just that. Their unsatisfiable appetite is evident in the way they unapologetically impose themselves on every game they play. They never allow the opposition to get comfortable for large parts of the game and always look like they could score every time they’re in possession of the football.

The one point I think might play a decadent role in the City camp however is their ongoing transfer saga – in particular: Harry Kane. Reports suggest that financially City wouldn’t be able to conclude both Kane and Jack Grealish, but the intention to keep building a star-studded side is why City is arguably the greatest in the world. Yes, the naysayers will point to financial bullying, but to suggest money isn’t part the game is rather ignorant and unnecessarily pure in my opinion.

Anyway, back to this game…City will also be without Joao Cancelo and Zack Steffen, but with all the respect in the world – the squad depth prevalent at City is good enough to justify simply sparing a thought for those who will miss out and move on.

Pep Guardiola mentioned to the media that given the fitness levels of his first-team players being a problem, he might be forced to call upon so-called ‘second team’ players for the Community Shield. I wouldn’t blame you for relegating such comments to tongue-in-cheek from the manager but expect the City side to be a mix of both first team players as well as the odd support player.

Prediction: Manchester City + BTTS: Yes (51/20)
I think the ability Leicester have going forward can allow them to get on the scoresheet, but I can’t see them causing this City side any real issues. Guardiola will want to dominate the game and with the consistent pressure that is likely to be applied to a rather mailable Leicester defence, I think 51/20 about a City win and both teams to score is incredible value.

Register Now with Hollywoodbets Mobile

More in EPL