David Silva
David Silva is back in the City team after recovering from injury Getty

Manchester City host Swansea City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, 12 December as the Citizens look to gain a march in the race for the top spot. A win here will take City back on top, with Leicester City and Arsenal playing later in the week.

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match of the Day at 10:20pm GMT on BBC One.

Overview

The Citizens will be desperate for redemption after a disastrous game against Stoke City last weekend when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Britannia stadium. The scoreline flattered City, given that the Potters had numerous chances to extend the lead and humiliate their more decorated rivals over the course of 90 minutes. Just three wins in their last seven games have derailed their campaign and find themselves in the third spot, three points behind leaders Leicester.

City will be without their defensive leader Vincent Kompany, who is unlikely to return before their crucial clash against Arsenal in the upcoming week. However, Sergio Aguero is closing in on a return and should join David Silva in the starting line-up in the coming days.

Swansea are in a bit of a soup with Garry Monk having been sacked this week following a series of poor results. The Welsh club have won only one of their last 11 fixtures and find themselves in a relegation battle, with fading memories of a top 10 finish last season.

Chairman Huw Jenkins had revealed earlier that he was left with no choice over Monk's dismissal and the club are now looking for a safe pair of hands to take them forward, with Alan Curtis taking over as caretaker manager for the time being.

What Managers Say

Manuel Pellegrini: "I don't think the problem of Swansea was the manager. I am sure he is the same good manager who made a very good season last year. But in football you are never surprised by anything because so many things change. Always when a club change a manager they have a special motivation in the first game, but that is always a different thing, I think they cannot change too much in two or three days."

Alan Curtis: "It's been a difficult few days for everyone. We are all used to managers leaving because sadly that has always been part of the game. But Garry's departure seemed a lot more personal to everyone because he has been at the club so long. We all feel - staff and players - that we have let him down and we want to go a small way to rectifying that on Saturday. Yes, we are on a bad run, but we won't be going to the Etihad (Stadium) just to make up the numbers and get the fixture out of the way while we wait for a new manager to come in. We need every point we can and we will strive to be competitive and get something out of a difficult game."

Betting Odds (888Sport)

  • Manchester City Win: 1.3
  • Draw: 6.05
  • Swansea City Win: 11

Team News

Manchester City

Possible XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure; De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling; Bony

Swansea City

Possible XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Shelvey, Ki; Montero, Sigurdsson, Ayew; Gomis

Manchester City FC Swansea City FC