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Manchester City will look to keep their impressive start to the season going when they travel to Loftus Road to take on QPR on Saturday.
Having claimed a precious Premier League win in mid-week against Villarreal to reignite their European push for the knockout stages, boss Roberto Mancini will be looking for no signs from his side of a European hangover when they go up against Neil Warnock’s side.
QPR have come back down to earth after their win against Chelsea, losing out 3-1 to Spurs at White Hart Lane last Sunday, and will be without the frustratingly talented Adel Taraabt for the match.
Taraabt was wonderful form last season as he led the Hoops charge to the Premier League, but has been at his tempestuous worst so far this campaign, and stormed out of the ground after being subbed against Fulham.
Perhaps tellingly of his season so far, the Moroccan international has had 29 shots on goal, but has so far accumulated zero goals and zero assists.
Shaun Derry and Armand Traore are both carrying minor injuries and are doubts for the game while Midfielder Akos Buzsaky will also miss out.
Manchester City have their own injury worries and will assess the back injury David Silva picked up in the win against Villarreal. The Spanish playmaker has been perhaps the player of the season so far and been the creative Spark that has fired City to the top of the table, and his potential absence will hurt Mancini’s side going forward.
The two sides are meeting for the first time since 2003, where City ran out 3-0 winners in the league cup while the last league meeting between the two came back in 1994, with QPR winning 3-1 at Maine Road.
Times have changed drastically since then and the new money that has arrived at the Etihad Stadium, and the array of attacking talent on display will surely test the QPR back line.
City have so far only failed to score in one of their 17 games in all competitions while QPR have only mustered eight goals in eleven games this season.
Match Winner
City are understandably the favourites for the game, but not as overwhelmingly as it might seem. Around 56% of people have backed the visitors for the win, while QPR’s record of four games at home without a defeat has persuaded over 30% to back the Super Hoops, while only around 12% think the game will end in a draw.
City are best placed with Bet365 at 1.36 (4/11), while QPR represent good value at 10.00 (9/1) with StanJames. The draw is 5.25 (17/4) with BoyleSports.
Correct Score
City’s firepower up front has meant most of the money in the market has backed them to find the back of the net, with perhaps the best value to be found in an away 2-0 win at 8.00 (7/1) with Ladbrokes.
According to the bookmakers there is little chance of QPR taking all three points, with the best placed result in the home sides favour at 26.00 (25/1) with Paddy Power. QPR recorded their worst result of the season, losing 6-0 to Fulham earlier in the season, and William Hill have City at 81.00 (80/1) to repeat that feat.
Recommended Bets
First scorer, Mario Balotelli, 5.50 (9/2) Bet365
Over 4.5 goals, 4.33 (10/3) Ladbrokes
