Manchester City vs Leicester City. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,416.
Saturday 10 February 2018 07:48, UK
A week after a failed move to Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez has declared himself available to face the Premier League leaders, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 5.15pm on Saturday, ending a week-long stand-off with Leicester.
Manager Claude Puel may be tempted to re-think his position, having said Mahrez would not take part in the fixture against the side who put in a £60m bid for him on Deadline Day.
"I hope he can get his head right and come back with us and work hard," Puel said. "Riyad is a magnificent player. He loves football, he loves his relationship with his team-mates, he enjoys his football."
The Foxes have a superb recent record at Man City, winning four of their six Premier League games in the north west. But they have just one point from their last four away league games, having gone seven undefeated on the road beforehand.
Pep Guardiola's side have not been beaten by a team outside the top five since January 2017, and the league leaders already have the best return of any English top division club in history after 26 games.
Sergio Aguero could set a new personal record if he nets against the Foxes in the having scored in each of his last six home games in all competitions - he has never managed seven.
But the Argentine has only scored once in four games against Leicester, in a 3-1 home defeat in February 2016.
John Stones is available again having missed City's last two games through illness and a knee problem.
Midfielder Phil Foden (ankle) is also fit but playmaker David Silva (hip), winger Leroy Sane (ankle), striker Gabriel Jesus and left-backs Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph (all knee) are still out.
Shinji Okazaki is expected to drop out with a knee injury that could sideline him for up to two weeks.
Man City have got to put their chances away, that wins you matches and it's not happening at the moment. They're doing enough, though, and I can't see anything but a home win.
Leicester aren't going anywhere - they're not getting relegated or going into the top six - they're a prime FA Cup team. Other sides in relegation trouble will be looking at them later in the season and going: 'when have we got Leicester at home?'.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (13/2 with SkyBet)
Manchester City are Sky Bet's shortest-priced favourites of the weekend at 2/9 for the victory with Leicester up against odds of 12/1 to win and 5/1 just to secure a draw.
Sergio Aguero heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/4 with Jamie Vardy is considered the visitors' main threat at 9/1 to break the deadlock, while the strike duo are enhanced from 7/2 to 11/2 to both find the net in Sky Bet's Price Boosts.
