Community Shield preview: Leicester take on Manchester City in curtain-raiser

It’s Premier League champions versus FA Cup winners this Saturday, as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City at Wembley Stadium.

This will be the first time these two teams meet in the Community Shield, and with both sides evenly matched on the day, we’re set for a fascinating encounter. We preview the action below.

The Foxes hoping to kick start their season in style

It hasn’t been the most positive start for Leicester having failed to win any of their first three pre-season friendlies – at Burton Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers – however, they do hold an advantage over Manchester City in terms of team selections.

Having had most of his players back for the pre-season, Brendan Rodgers now has his whole squad back in training, including star midfielder Youri Tielemans – who has been linked with a move to Liverpool.

Leicester have also reinforced their front line with the addition of Patson Daka during the summer, and the £23 million signing from Red Bull Salzburg will be eager to prove his worth to Foxes fans.

Daka has a terrific goalscoring record, especially in Austria where he won both the Golden Boot and player of the year award last season.

The Zambian forward is priced at 17/10 to score anytime and is 11/2 to be the deciding factor on the day.

City missing stars but have the quality

The Citizens are expected to be without the likes of Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Ederson and Kyle Walker, who all featured heavily at Euro 2020 and Copa America.

Pep Guardiola’s side could field a youthful eleven, although the Foxes should be wary of the likes of their former star Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Ruben Dias, who are back in the squad.

A title winner at both clubs, the 30-year-old Mahrez has become a vital cog in Guardiola’s side with his delightful ability to shift the ball onto his left foot in goalscoring opportunities always making him a threat.

He scored nine league goals in 27 appearances in the league last season and there is no reason why he can’t open his account for the season at Wembley.

Find him at 7/5 to get on the scoresheet anytime, or as the first scorer at 9/2. Would you like to work out your potential winnings? Try our online betting calculator.

Manchester City are priced at 19/20 to come away with victory, with a draw between these two at 13/5, Leicester are 14/5 to claim a famous win this Saturday.

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