‘Rattling’ – Jim White makes big Leeds claim ahead of clash v Man City
talkSPORT host Jim White and pundit Bob Mills are predicting an upset when Man City meet Leeds United on Saturday evening.
On Friday’s Jim White Show (talkSPORT, 10am), the game at Elland Road was talked about in-depth, with two of the three in the studio going for Leeds getting something from the game.
Martin Keown was the only pundit who predicted a Man City win and even he admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if Leeds won.
White kicked off the discussion saying, “Leeds United face Man City, it’s a 5.30pm kick-off, it’s Bielsa against Pep, master against pupil and Leeds are 6/1 to win this.”
Keown said of Leeds, “This is a really good, dangerous team. I rarely criticise Guardiola but he got the tactics wrong last week.
“Man City have lost some of their balance and you wonder if it’s going stale. Both managers generate belief and a feeling of success. This is a hard one to call.”
White asked Keown, “In terms of attractive to watch, who wins it? Who is more attractive to watch?”
Keown replied, “The City of old is more attractive to watch. They’ve lost that a little bit. They need to simplify their game. The Leeds guys, they believe so much and it’s a case of expect the unexpected.”
White delivered his verdict saying, “I think Leeds United are well capable of rattling Man City’s cage on Saturday.”
Keown plumped for Man City saying, “I’m going to go with Guardiola but if Leeds win it I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Bob Mills said, “I think Leeds will win”.
Expect goals
Leeds are as big as 13/2 to beat Man City and plunge Pep’s club into crisis. And we’ve got no doubt that Bielsa can take them to the edge today.
Leeds should have got something out of the game against Liverpool and if players like Mateusz Klich and Patrick Bamford can rise to the heights they achieved that day, we’re sure City won’t keep a clean sheet.
Man City are without Jesus and Sergio Aguero but goals come from everywhere in that side.
Raheem Sterling will likely be playing through the middle and he scored twice in the 3-0 Carabao Cup win against Burnley on Wednesday.
Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez are out for Leeds and that’s a big blow, but Rodrigo should come in, with Gjanni Alioksi ready to prove a point on the left.
We think there will be goals and the bookies agree. Over 2.5 goals is a ridiculously short price of 1/3 and over 3.5 goals is odds on at 10/11.
It means the bookies are expecting at last four goals at Elland Road this evening and that would see the Leeds United show carry on entertaining.
We’d take a 3-2 home win right now.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Athletic has been told’: Phil Hay says Pep has done something unusual ahead of Leeds v Man City