Manchester City expert Steven McInerney of Esteemed Kompany has claimed that Pep Guardiola's side are vulnerable to a Jamie Vardy "masterclass" in Sunday's Premier League meeting with Leicester City.
City were unable to claim maximum points in their Boxing Day clash against Everton, playing out a 1-1 draw after Erling Haaland saw his second-half penalty saved by Jordan Pickford.
As a result, the Citizens have now gone four Premier League matches without a win since they eased to a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
Having taken 28 points from 18 league matches, Man City's title defence is effectively over with 14 points separating them from top spot.
City also have their work cut out to achieve Champions League qualification, given the fact that there is a four-point gap between themselves and the top four.
They will now turn their focus to Sunday's clash against Leicester at the King Power Stadium, with the visitors looking to end a five-game winless away league run.
"Primed for a Vardy masterclass"
Despite their recent poor form, Man City will be the favourites to get the better of a Leicester side that have lost seven of their previous 10 Premier League matches (W1, D2).
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is hopeful that Vardy will be able to feature in Sunday's encounter after sitting out the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Boxing Day.
"Jamie had a small injury, a couple of knocks over the last week," Van Nistelrooy told reporters following the defeat to Liverpool.
"He wasn't totally fit for today so we gave him some time to recover. Hopefully, he can make it for Sunday. He has a good chance."
If he does play, McInerney believes that the veteran striker has the quality to inspire Leicester against Man City despite the fact the Foxes have had their own struggles this season.
"Leicester, I'm a bit nervous about just because of Jamie Vardy," McInerney told Sports Mole. "I know he's not the same Jamie Vardy of old, but that man loves a narrative. City are very primed for a Vardy masterclass. If he's going to get a hat-trick in any game this season, it'll be against Man City in the current form.
"It's away from home as well; we've had a lot of bad experiences at that stadium in years past. I'm not as confident in Leicester, even though they're probably a much poorer team than Everton right now, just because of the circumstances, Vardy and the channels, City can't defend at all, and it's away.
"But they are shipping goals. They were abysmal against Newcastle, Wolves battered them at home, and even though the game was a lot more even than the scoreline suggested, you'd think City would have something there.
"I would be amazed if City aren't getting four points from these two games [against Everton and Leicester], even given the current slide, because they are, on paper, very welcome fixtures.
Vardy has previous experience of success in this fixture, having scored two of his three Premier League hat-tricks against Man City.
The former England international netted three goals in a 4-2 home win in December 2016, before he scored another hat-trick in a 5-2 away victory in September 2020.
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McInerney: "Everyone can get at us"
Man City have struggled to keep teams at bay in recent times, having conceded at least two goals in seven of their last nine league matches.
They also failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous eight away league games since they recorded a shutout in their opening Premier League match against Chelsea.
McInerney believes that a "soft underbelly" offers any of Man City's opponents the chance to 'get at them', including a relegation-threatened side like Leicester.
"I've noticed a trend that teams aren't really afraid of City right now," McInerney said. "Teams are going at City because they know City have that soft underbelly, and it might invite Leicester forward a little bit and give them a little bit of confidence.
"That could also play into City's hands, because if they do play Savinho, Doku, De Bruyne, there's a little bit of skill and pace there. That little bit of space could help City, because we're not very creative at the moment in terms of when everyone sits behind the ball, the low block and all that.
"City struggle to break it down, so if Leicester feel a little bit more emboldened, they could come out a little bit more, and that could help City.
"But then City's worst enemy is themselves right now, so it could be that Josko Gvardiol, who's in really poor form, misplaces a pass to Kyle Walker, and then he plays it back to Jamie Vardy, who puts it back on the net.
"That's how City are conceding goals right now - it's silly nonsense - and I'd be amazed if we don't concede against Leicester. We have to score more than them.
"Everyone can get at us, everyone's faster and stronger than City right now. Everyone. Everyone's fitter, faster, stronger and hungrier, and that is concerning."
With Man City low on confidence, they may be able to draw inspiration from the fact that they have won 19 of their previous 20 Premier League matches against promoted teams (D1).
The visitors will certainly be keen to claim all three points in what will Guardiola's 500th game in charge of the club.
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