Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town, Premier League Matchday 2: Team News, Preview and Prediction

Competition/Round: 2018/19 English Premier League Season – Matchday 2

Date/Time: Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town – Sunday, 19 August 2018, 13:30 BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria); 08:30 EST, 05:30 PST (USA); 17:30 IST (India)

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Match Officials:

Referee: Andre Marriner

Assistants: Simon Long, Richard West

Fourth Official: Lee Mason

TV Info: Sky Sports Premier League (UK), NBCSN (USA)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live (USA)

Preview:

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could not be more pleased. The Blues started the 2018/19 season with two strong performances against Chelsea and Arsenal in the Community Shield Final and their opening match in the English Premier League. Albeit the Blues looked rusty in these two matches, City can now look forward to a relatively easier schedule in August and September. Over the next two months, the Mancunian club will face the six teams that were promoted to the Premier League over the last two seasons. Whilst anything is possible in football, it is assumed the title-defenders will coast with ease.

Following their victory over the Gunners last weekend, the Blues will host the Terriers in their home opener of this season.

Huddersfield Town, however, took an early beating. The Terriers were battered by Chelsea on their opening day of the 2018/19 EPL season, and their manager David Wagner will surely hope to bounce back from this early defeat. Unfortunately for his side, his next test will be against the Champions of England, who are also tipped to reclaim the title this season. Wagner could not have asked for a less-favourable schedule.

Team News:

Kevin De Bruyne unexpectedly injured himself in training earlier this week, and it is projected he will be absent for two or three months. Moreover, according to City Watch, Guardiola is considering dropping Agüero in this match. Despite his strong performance against Chelsea in the Community Shield Final, the Argentine was unable to find his mark in the match against Arsenal last weekend.

Huddersfield Town are without Mathias Zanka and Jonathan Hogg, who are both sidelined with an injury. Aside from these injuries, Wagner believes the rest of his players are healthy and available for this match.

Possible Lineups:

Manchester City

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Kompany, Mendy; Fernandinho, Gündoğan; Sterling, D. Silva, B. Silva; Jesus

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Huddersfield Town:

Formation: 5-3-1-1

Hamer; Löwe, Jørgensen, Schindler, Kongolo, Smith; Mooy, Parra, Billing; Pritchard; Mounie

Manager: David Wagner

Prediction:

Manchester City’s title defence took a blow in midweek when De Bruyne obtained an unexpected injury whilst participating in training. Given City’s depth, however, it is likely the Blues will overcome his injury (at least in the short term).

The Blues had some difficulty breaking down the Terries last season, where a last-minute Raheem Sterling goal saw them claim victory in whilst raveling to Kirklees Stadium.

The reverse fixture, however, was rather surprising. The Blues hosted the Terriers in May 2018 in what was then a relegation fight for Wagner’s men. City, on the other hand, had already been proclaimed Champions of England, and thus were striving to break several records before the end of the season. Despite the odds, Huddersfield claimed an unlikely point away from home at the Etihad. This draw, and results elsewhere in the league, eventually saw the Terriers avoid the drop into the Championship.

Huddersfield Town were very fortunate to escape with a point last season, but given the circumstances in the new EPL season, it is unlikely this will happen again.

Manchester City 3-1 Huddersfield Town