Manchester City are standing even with Leicester City atop the table in the Premier League right now, but they well know by now that their position is a tenuous one. This is already City’s third spell atop the league this season, and they’ve been under constant pressure the whole time. Their up-and-down form this season seems like it could be hitting an upswing, but City fans are still going to be nervous about a trip to Stoke City right now.
Manchester City vs. Stoke City 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Manchester City are hoping to cement their place atop the league, but their have to get through a difficult trip to face Stoke City first.
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The Britannia is never a fun place to visit when your form is not certain, especially against a Stoke side like the one Mark Hughes has put together this season. There’s still plenty of the Tony Pulis Stoke to be found along the River Trent, but Hughes has also brought some of the same style as the team he once had at Manchester City to it as well, the same blend of flair and dogged determination that helped set them on the path to be a two-time title winner in recent years. Even though Stoke are just 12th in the Premier League right now, they’re always a tough opponent, and just one win could put them into the thick of the chase for a Europa League spot.
Key player -- David Silva (Manchester City)
Silva looked good in his first start since returning from injury, against Hull City in the League Cup. However, looking good against a Championship side in the Cup and looking good against a physical team like Stoke are two different matters. This is going to be a good test to see just how healthy and fit Silva is right now -- a test that City need him to pass with the busy holiday period coming up, set to sorely test their depth.
Key matchup -- Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) vs. Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
Kolarov will almost certainly be starting this match for his skill on set pieces, both serving them in attack and defending against them in his own area. That’s going to be very valuable against Stoke, even in their slightly more modern style they play these days. The question, though, is whether or not he can slow down Shaqiri, who’s skill as a guy who can “make things happen” will be critical for Stoke’s chances to get something out of this match. Kolarov has tended to struggle with trickier wide players like Shaqiri over the last couple of years, so how City handle this matchup -- whether they trust Kolarov to get the job done alone or if and how they give him help -- could determine the way this match ends.
Stoke City injuries and suspensions
Out: Peter Crouch, Peter Odemwingie, Shay Given In doubt: Glen Johnson, Marc Muniesa
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, Pablo Zabaleta, Patrick Roberts In doubt: Joe Hart, Jesus Navas, Fernando Reges
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 7:45 a.m. ET, 12:45 p.m. local
Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), NBC Universo (U.S. - Spanish), TSN 1, 4, RDS (Canada), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), BT Sport Live Streaming (U.K.)
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