By all accounts, Manchester City should be a team which can contend for the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season. However, an illness in the locker room could keep some of its stars out for this opening match against a West Brom team just hoping to survive yet another term in England's top flight.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Keep a really close eye on this betting line as the rest of this week progresses. Manchester City was a -1 choice at -110 vig on Wednesday morning, but the line has already moved to -1 and +113 vig.
The Citizens are still clearly one of the best three teams in England though, and being favored by a -163 margin still seems to be justified.
The total in this match is somewhat high at 2.5 with vig on the over set at -125, though a lot of that is thanks to the relatively high spread in the match.
KEY INJURIES
Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and David Silva were all sent home to try to heal from this virus which has spread through the Man City camp. Aguero probably wasn't going to play in the opener anyway after a long Copa America stand with Argentina, but Nasri and Silva are both tremendous cogs for Manuel Pellegrini.
Pablo Zabaleta is likely to sit out at least one or two games in the EPL season thanks to Copa America as well, while both Yaya Toure and Gael Clichy are question marks for the Citizens as well.
First-team goalie Ben Foster suffered a gruesome knee injury at the end of last season for West Brom, and he'll be out through at least September for the Baggies.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I think what happened against Madrid and Stuttgart rang one or two alarm bells and maybe showed we have to change something." – Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala on the club's disappointing preseason campaign
RECENT FORM
Preseason matches aren't always indicative of how well a team will do when the games are for keeps, but there is definitely some concern here. The Citizens were trounced 4-1 by Real Madrid and 4-2 by Stuttgart in preseason play, and a 2-2 draw for 120 minutes with AS Roma was nothing special either, even if that match was ultimately won in a shootout.
West Brom was heavily favored when it played its first preseason friendly at Orlando City, but the team just didn't look strong at all that night in a 3-1 loss. Last week's 4-0 win over Bristol Rovers was a much more clinical result which deserves praise.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Rickie Lambert signing was a big one for West Brom. He replaces Christian Benteke up front, and he immediately provided a couple goals in his first match against Bristol Rovers.
Parlay Lambert with Saido Berahino and Victor Anichebe, and there's enough firepower here for Albion to at least remotely compete in this fixture.
We have no doubt that Manchester City is going to score goals, even without Aguero in the fold. Raheem Sterling was a coup of a signing at the outset of the transfer season, and Wilfried Bony, though disappointing after the transfer window last January, should be better with an offseason under his belt.
Still, a struggling defense and a couple absentees in the midfield due to illness later, and Manchester City looks like a mere good side rather than a world class side. That team without Silva and Nasri isn't good enough to deserve being favored by a full goal on the Asian handicap. Take the goal in what could be an awfully exciting opener.
West Brom 2, Manchester City 2
BookMaker has live Barclays Premier League odds for every clash of the season. BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Manchester City opened as a -163 favorite. The first offering of the total came in at 2.5. Live wagering during the match offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer match now!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Manchester City and West Brom will take place on Monday, August 10, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. at The Hawthorns. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
