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Manchester City-West Brom Preview: Getting back on track

By J.C. Gonzalez

West Bromwich Albion's Irish midfielder James McClean (L) vies with Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 31, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
West Bromwich Albion's Irish midfielder James McClean (L) vies with Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 31, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) /
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After Manchester City’s poor Derby performance, they will look to climb back toward the top of the league with three points at home.

Given Manchester City’s struggles against the Big Six this season, delivering results against lesser opposition becomes more important than ever before. With newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion visiting the Etihad Stadium in 19th place and just six points from 12 matches, City will need to secure what seems to be a straightforward victory.

West Brom will be desperate for any result they can get, and given City’s goalscoring struggles, they will need to find a way to open up a team determined to sit deep and claw out an unlikely road point. For all of City’s troubles against Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United, however, they have been good against this season’s relegation candidates.

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City’s best two-game stretch of the season in the Premier League came against Burnley and Fulham, where they showed some semblance of their old selves. If they can repeat it against West Brom, they can pull within three points of the league leaders. City were bailed out at the weekend in that they didn’t lose any ground due to points dropped by all of Tottenham, Liverpool, and Chelsea, with draws against Crystal Palace and Fulham and a loss to Everton, respectively.

City absolutely need to capitalize on games like this, especially considering that they were unable to make any strides toward the top of the table in their last match. With the games beginning to come thick and fast, it’s a huge opportunity.

Predicted XI: Ederson (GK), Kyle Walker (RB), Rúben Dias (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), Benajmin Mendy (LB), Rodri (CDM), Bernardo Silva (CAM), Kevin De Bruyne (CAM), Ferran Torres (RW), Gabriel Jesus (ST), Phil Foden (LW)