Premier League preview and odds: Hull City vs Manchester City

Published on: 26/12/2016

Premier League preview and odds: Hull City vs Manchester City

December 26, 2016 17:15pm - KCOM Stadium

Referee: R. Madley

Premier League

Rock-bottom Hull City will look to break a six-game winless streak when they welcome third-ranked Manchester City to the KCOM Stadium. The visitors themselves can maintain the pressure on the top two with a win in East Yorkshire.

Hull looking for some festive cheer

Since surprising everyone by winning their opening two games of the season, newly-promoted Hull City have had little to cheer about this term. The Tigers have one just one match since then and have plummeted to the bottom of the Premier League table, where they remain level on points with Swansea City but with a far inferior goal difference.

Mike Phelan`s men are winless in their last six and have conceded one goal or more in each of their last 15 matches. On home soil, they have yet to keep a clean sheet. They come into this game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat away to West Ham United, in which they struck the bar three times and found themselves on the wrong end of a dubious penalty decision.

Meanwhile, Manchester City continue to adjust to life under highly-rated coach Pep Guardiola. The pre-season title favourites started strongly before hitting a sticky patch of form. However, they rallied in recent weeks to earn back-to-back wins at home to Watford (2-0) and top four rivals Arsenal (2-1).

The Sky Blues have been victorious in 75% of their away matches and have scored one goal or more in each of their last 10 Premier League games. In addition, they scored two goals or more in seven of their eight away matches this season and all of those games produced over 2.5 goals.

Team news

The home side still have plenty of injury concerns with Abel Hernandez (hernia), Will Keane (knee), Greg Luer (cartilage), Brian Lenihan (knee), Allan McGregor (back), Moses Obdubajo (knee) and Alex Bruce (surgery) all out of action.

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero is still banned for the visitors who will also be without the injured duo of Ilkay Gundogan and Vincent Kompany, while Pablo Zabaleta remains a doubt.

Recent form (League):

Hull City: LLDLD

Manchester City: WWLLW

Betting odds and tips

Hull are actually unbeaten in three at home having drawn their last two games since beating since beating Southampton in November. However, they are facing a team that score heavily on the road and have won six of their eight away games so far this season.

You can back Man City/Over 2.5 Goals at 11/10.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 26/12/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (26/12/2016 11:42:07) but are subject to change.