This week, Manchester City are one of the biggest favorites we have seen in the Premier League in quite some time. The Citizens are over 1/11 to knock off Huddersfield Town at home, with oddsmakers giving the Terriers a nearly 1 in 30 chance of pulling off the upset. Huddersfield will look to prove the books wrong, and potentially make their fans a nice bit of quid, this Sunday. It would certainly be a contender for upset of the season if it were to happen.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from the Etihad Stadium in Manchester at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 19, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Huddersfield Town +2846
Manchester City -1111
Draw +957
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
Huddersfield Town did not play well at all in their first match of the season. The Terriers were outgunned 3-0 by Chelsea in their home opener, and they had a lot of trouble on the defensive side of the ball. They left players unmarked on set pieces, and they also gave up a penalty due to some sloppy defending. On offense, Huddersfield were only able to manage one shot on goal all game. They did ring two shots off the crossbar, but it was still a disappointing effort on this side of the ball too.
As for Manchester City, the club picked up right where it left off last year. City were barely tested by a good Arsenal team and grabbed a 2-0 win on the road in their opener. Raheem Sterling terrorized the back line throughout the match and notched the game’s first goal in the 14th minute. Pep Guardiola’s squad was not content with a single goal though, and they continued to press the action. Bernardo Silva eventually knocked home a second in the 64th minute, cushioning the lead. The defense looked a bit shaky at times, but City were still able to get a clean sheet in a road game.
Key Injuries
There are two long-term injuries for Huddersfield coming into this match. Midfielder Danny Williams has been out since March of last year after fracturing his fibula, and there is still no timetable on his return. Defender Erik Durm is continuing to recover from an injury picked up in training too, and he has already been ruled out for a while longer. Forward Isaac Mbenza is considered questionable to play in this one as well, but he would likely be a reserve even if he were given a green light.
Manchester City will not have at least four players available for this match. Defenders Eliaquim Mangala, Danilo, and Philippe Sandler have all been ruled out for various reasons, as well as midfielder Kevin de Bruyne. Danilo and de Bruyne are the two big losses, but City have a ton of depth. Midfielder David Silva is considered questionable for this match with a knee injury.
Matchup to Watch
The Terriers’ best chance to get a result out of this match is to score on a set piece and then hold on for dear life. Huddersfield’s two best chances against Chelsea came off of set pieces, and the club has a set piece specialist in Aaron Mooy. Mooy is a free kick artist, and he can pick out a teammate on a run with surprising precision. City had a few hiccups when it came to defending free kicks in their first match, so this is an area Huddersfield may be able to exploit.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Manchester City’s biggest threat in this match is complacency. The club started its title defense right where it left off, and there’s a reason this team is the odds-on favorite to win the Premier League. It’s too early in the year to be complacent though, especially in front of a home crowd.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester City 2, Huddersfield Town 0
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
