It’s matchday 4 and Manchester City are set to face Leicester City at King Power Stadium. Let’s get caught up on all the latest before the match.

Is the Leicester City Match a Must Win for Manchester City? - apreston21 - Bitter and Blue

Our apreston21 details how crucial this early season clash might be.

In recent seasons City have struggled against Leicester, losing 1-0 in the Community Shield last month and a heavy 5-2 loss last season at home. However, it is easy to say this is a tough match and arguably if Brazil maintain their position there is no clear favourite, but both recent losses to the Foxes need to be analysed more clearly.

Many will remember the 5-2 loss clearly as it is not often you see 3 penalties conceded in a very similar fashion in one match. Looking more closely into this – Eric Garcia was one of the players who gave a penalty away and he of course will not feature. It is also unlikely Nathan Ake will start with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones all so strong this season and last season. The loss in the Community Shield was also due to a penalty being given away in the last minute, again by Ake.

City’s defence is much more solid than when the blues lost early last season and the same team will not feature as played last month as Guardiola played a weakened side. City have already lost once this season to Tottenham Hotspur in the first match, but have excelled against Norwich and Arsenal since, beating both 5-0. It can be debated that no match is a must-win this early in a season, albeit this would be as close as you can get.

Predicted XI for Manchester City’s clash against Leicester City - Zoheb Alam - Man City Square

Zoheb has best guest at the XI. Here we highlight his defensive picks.

As of now, it has been assumed that Manchester City might miss some of their star members for this important clash. Hence, they will need to make the best use of their star-studded squad if they are to topple Brendan Rodger’s men.

Scott Carson is most likely to don the gloves between the sticks and will hope to gather a clean sheet on his rare start. At the back, John Stones and Ruben Dias is expected to pair up as the centre-backs. This defending duo will be keen to keep the Leicester attack at bay and will look to put their best efforts to maintain solidarity at the back end of the pitch.

In the defensive flanks, Kyle Walker will occupy his usual right-back position whereas the left-back spot will be handed to Joao Cancelo as he has looked in good form this term. This also means that Oleksandr Zinchenko will again have to wait for his first start this season.

At the centre of the park, Rodri will operate as the defensive midfielder and will be tasked with shielding the City backline. On the flanks, Bernardo Silva will function as a right midfielder and on the other side, Ilkay Gundogan will retain his left midfielder role.

‘RODGERS IS A MANAGER I LEARN FROM’ SAYS PEP - David Clayton - ManCity.com

Pep had glowing words for the Foxes maestro.

The Foxes have beaten City two out of the last three meetings, including a shock 5-2 win at the Etihad last season.

But the City boss admits he always enjoys playing Leicester and invariably takes something away from each meeting.

“For the last however many years Leicester are one of the top contenders - a top-class team,” said Pep.

“I am a big fan of their manager; I learn a lot watching his teams.

“They have top sporting directors; they sign perfectly well for what they need and Leicester away is always a tough game.

“But we are ready for the challenge.”

Pep Guardiola highlights ‘crazy’ and ‘ridiculous’ situation that could see Man City lose two key players - Stuart Brennan - Manchester Evening News

He isn’t as happy with the FIFA decision regarding his two Brazilian stars.

Pep Guardiola has highlighted the ridiculous situation which could lead to Brazil stars Ederson and Gabriel Jesus being banned from playing in the weekend Premier League game at Leicester.

The pair have been told they cannot turn out for Manchester City because their national FA has invoked the five-day rule aimed at stopping players who missed international matches for which they were called up.

Premier League clubs collectively decided to stop their South American internationals from travelling to play in World Cup qualifiers as Covid restrictions would have forced them into a ten-day quarantine on their return.

That included Jesus and Ederson, who stayed in Manchester rather than play in games against Chile, Argentina and Peru in the past fortnight.

But Brazil has reacted by stopping them playing for City - even though, as Guardiola points out, the Covid rules would have stopped them from playing for Brazil anyway.

Kevin De Bruyne: “Sometimes I have to sacrifice myself and my body to help the team in a bad moment and that’s fine.” - Saul Garcia - Bitter and Blue

KDB is all about the club. All or nothing right?

Kevin De Bruyne is motivated and ready to return. The Belgian spoke about his commitment and penchant to work incredibly hard as he nears his return to the p[itch.

Let’s dive in-

“I think people know what I can do with the ball passing and creativity wise but, in my mindset, if I have a bad game I’ll still run the most and press the other team.

“It sets an example for everybody else. Especially being older now and more of a leader and people looking up to me now more than before, it says: ‘if you do it, then I have to do it’. This is the way it goes in a team.

“You know sometimes you get a small injury, but I know when I get one it’s mostly out of fatigue of playing a lot of games in a row and the amount of running and pressing that I do and the high intensity.

“That happens sometimes. Sometimes I have to sacrifice myself and my body to help the team in a bad moment and that’s fine.”

Man City Receive Major Kevin De Bruyne Fitness Boost Ahead of Leicester City Clash - Vayam Lahoti - City Xtra

Our Belgian talisman is set to make his return to Premier League action.

As reported by Jack Gaughan of The Daily Mail, De Bruyne is working to put himself in contention to face Brendan Rodgers’s side at the weekend after missing out altogether on his side’s 5-0 victories over Norwich City and Arsenal.

It has further been stated that Pep Guardiola is likely to take a late call on De Bruyne’s fitness for his side’s clash against the FA Cup winners, who beat City 1-0 to claim the Community Shield in August.

De Bruyne decided against reporting for international duty this month, as he stayed back to partake in team sessions with those who weren’t called up by their respective countries after sealing a late return to pre-season.

CITY V SPURS: TAYLOR ON TEAM NEWS - Caroline Oatway - ManCity.com

And finally, the women’s side play on Sunday and Taylor may have his pick of all his new charges.

Swedish international Filippa Angeldahl is in contention to make her City debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The midfielder – City’s deadline day signing and sixth recruit of the summer – has not yet featured for her new Club, having had to await international clearance.

However, speaking in his pre-match press conference, Head Coach Gareth Taylor has confirmed the paperwork has been completed and that Angeldahl could be set to make her home debut this weekend, as could Australian defender Alanna Kennedy.

Ellen White and Georgia Stanway, who missed the Champions League trip to Real Madrid and have been named in England’s latest squad, are also available.

That’s all for this morning. Now it’s time to take on LCFC. COME ON CITY!!