Manchester City seem to have recovered from a phase where they looked like slipping far away from the chaos at the top of the table. After a swashbuckling start, they underwent a period with a single win in 5 matches with a host of draws at home. Matches which ideally they should have easily notched up 3 points in. But after two back to back defeats against Chelsea and Leicester City, they seem to have found their rhythm and after wins against Watford and Arsenal, are after their 3rd on the bounce.
Hull City couldn’t have asked for a worse fixture than this on Boxing Day. The team, which was not upgraded sufficiently to deal with the rigours of the Premier League, has failed to cope with the strength and depth of their fellow competitors. The fact that they are in such a situation from where a run of wins will see them jump considerably higher is a testament to the fighting spirit of the squad who are not completely at fault for the situation they find themselves in. The club must act in January and make sure they can put up a better display in the 2nd half.
TRIVIA
- Hull’s only previous game against Manchester City on Boxing Day ended in a 5-1 defeat at the Etihad in 2008.
- The Citizens have lost just one of their previous eight Premier League games against Hull City (W4 D3).
- Raheem Sterling has scored on each of his last two games on Boxing Day, once against Burnley in 2014 and against Sunderland last season.
- The Tigers have won their last two league games played on Boxing Day, scoring three goals in each clash (3-0 v Burnley in 2015 and 3-1 v Sunderland in 2014).
- Hull City found themselves bottom of the Premier League on Christmas Day. 21 of the 24 sides to be bottom of the league at Christmas have been relegated that season.
- Hull City have conceded the first goal in 14 different Premier League matches this season; more often than any other side.
- Hull are the only Premier League team yet to win in December this season (P4 W0 D1 L3).
- Of Hull’s 14 Premier League goals this season, Robert Snodgrass has had a hand in half of these (five goals, two assists).
TEAM NEWS
HULL CITY
Ryan Mason (knock) has recovered for the home encounter against Manchester City. Moses Odubajo, Alex Bruce, Abel Hernandez, Will Keane and Greg Luer are all out. Josh Tymon is available, while Allan McGregor is back in training.
MANCHESTER CITY
Pablo Zabaleta faces a late test on a knee problem ahead of the trip to the KC Stadium. Fernandinho is back from suspension. Sergio Aguero remains suspended, while Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan (both knee) and Fabian Delph remain sidelined.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
HULL CITY (3-5-1-1)
Marshall; Davies, Dawson, Maguire; Robertson, Clucas, Livermore, Huddlestone, Elmohamady; Mbokani; Snodgrass
MANCHESTER CITY- (4-1-4-1)
Bravo; Clichy, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Otamendi; De Bruyne; Silva, Fernando, Touré, Sane; Sterling
BETTING ODDS
HULL CITY- 9/1
DRAW- 9/2
MANCHESTER CITY- 3/10
TRIVIA COURTESY- OPTA
