EPL: Manchester City vs. West Brom – 3 Things to Watch For
Manchester City visit the Hawthorns Saturday afternoon for a critical clash with Tony Pulis and West Brom. Can City pick up a win for the first time in six?
Manchester City haven’t won in six games. They’ve played well in some of those games, but now City are in a jumble atop the Premier League, clearly second place in their Champions League group, and now out of the EFL Cup. Man City were knocked out of the domestic cup competition by crosstown rivals Manchester United on Wednesday evening. Some might point out City’s weaker side as an excuse, but at the end of the day City are out and are still without a win in six games.
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Last weekend Man City were held to a 1-1 draw against Southampton at home. City were very indecisive in their attack for much of the game and only looked to grab a winner towards the last fifteen of the game. West Brom meanwhile haven’t won in four straight, but have picked up points in four of their last five. Included in this run was an impressive draw against Tottenham, a point City failed to gain against the Spurs earlier this year.
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Pep Guardiola will need to find a way to turn this slump around with the looming matchup against Barcelona coming midweek at the Etihad. That means several issues might present themselves for the City manager. It appears City will still have several key players out for this match as well. Kevin De Bruyne, Pablo Zabaleta, and Bacary Sagna all look likely to miss. Perhaps Pep will choose to go with a back three again. The fitness of captain Vincent Kompany is also a cause for concern. Kompany played 80 minutes last weekend and 45 minutes midweek against United, but asked to be subbed off at halftime.
Below are three things to watch for this weekend as City travel to West Brom and take on Tony Pulis’ side. From a City perspective this has to be a must win game, despite a Champions League clash midweek against Barcelona.
Does Pep play four at the back?
Pablo Maffeo played quite well midweek against Manchester United. Regularly coming up against Pogba and Ibra the young Spanish fullback did an exceptional job. This gives Pep a choice, more so than who plays right back, but instead does Pep have a right back at all? We’ve seen Guardiola go with a back three against the likes of Southampton and Everton, but with the play of Maffeo, perhaps Pep opts for a traditional back four as he did earlier in the season, when City were actually winning games.
Can Tony Pulis spoil another party?
West Brom manager Tony Pulis has a bit of a reputation for being quite blunt and being able to stifle creative teams. It may not be the most attractive football, but West Brom have gotten points out of several good teams each season with Pulis in charge. They nearly knocked off Tottenham save for a last-minute equalizer. Last season City opened with this fixture and the brilliance of Yaya Toure powered City to a 3-0 victory. Now, with City’s confidence in the toilet, Pulis must be savoring the idea of knocking off the visiting Pep Guardiola.
Will City ever have another lead?
In a glass half full mentality, some supporters would say, “City haven’t choked away a lead to drop points yet this season”. Yes, that’s true, but only because they haven’t held a lead in any of the last six games. For a team as talented as City that is simply unacceptable. Some games the chances were there, but just not finished (looking at you Everton game). Meanwhile other games City looked unlikely to ever score a goal (against United). If City can strike first in this one, surely they are in line for the three points. Question is, can City find an opening goal?