Why is Leicester vs Manchester City kicking off at 2:30pm on Sunday? Premier League clash given earlier start time
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Manchester City travel to face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium at a very unusual time this Sunday afternoon.
Pep Guardiola‘s side continued their dismal streak on Boxing Day as they drew at home to Everton, making it one win in 13 games.
Guardiola, who will be taking charge of his 500th game as Man City boss here, has never witnessed such a barren run in his career.
City are seventh in the Premier League and their chances of a fifth-straight title are all but dead already.
But they will still feel they can turn things around and Leicester could be the perfect opponent to start that against, as the Foxes sit 18th having lost three in a row.
Leicester vs Man City: Kick-off time
This Premier League clash will be played on Sunday, December 29.
Kick-off at the King Power Stadium is scheduled for 2:30pm, which is a very unusual start time.
Typically in the top-flight schedule, games are held at 12:30pm, 3pm, 5:30pm or 8pm.
On Sunday, the first game of the day will be this match at 2:30pm, which is half an hour earlier than four other fixtures.
There is no official reason for this change, but it has likely been made to suit TV coverage on Sky Sports, avoiding a clash with West Ham vs Liverpool at 5:15pm.
Both games will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League this weekend.
On top of this, the festive period usually sees some strange dates and kick-off times due to the busy nature of the schedule.
- Leicester have lost 11 of their last 13 Premier League meetings with Manchester City (W2), while they haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 15 against the Citizens (W4 L11).
- Manchester City have won their last four Premier League away games against Leicester without conceding a single goal. In their league history, they've never won five in a row away against an opponent while keeping a clean sheet each time.
- Manchester City have won 19 of their last 20 Premier League games against promoted sides (D1), including each of the last 10 in a row. They last had a longer such winning run between December 2009 and December 2011 (12).
Leicester vs Man City: talkSPORT coverage
talkSPORT will have live and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the game.
Adrian Durham will be your host and commentary will come from Sam Matterface and former England captain Stuart Pearce.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date in our dedicated Premier League live blog here.
- Leicester have only lost their final league game in one of the last five calendar years (W3 D1), going down 2-1 at Liverpool in 2022. This is the first time they're facing the reigning top-flight champions in such a match since 1974, and 2-0 home defeat to Leeds United.
- Manchester City have only lost their final league game in one of the last 23 calendar years (W12 D10), going down 1-0 at Liverpool in 2016.
- Leicester have lost 4-0, 3-0 and 3-1 in their last three Premier League games. They've not lost four in a row while conceding multiple goals each time since a run of five in September/October 2003.
Leicester vs Man City: Team news
Leicester will still be without goalkeeper Mads Hermansen as he remains sidelined with an injury.
But back-up Jakub Stolarczyk impressed at Anfield last time out, and Ruud van Nistelrooy will be confident for him to step in again.
Jamie Vardy missed the Liverpool game and he remains a doubt while Wilfred Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu will stay sidelined.
As for Man City, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker were both not in the squad for the draw with Everton.
Walker was ill and Grealish wasn’t fully fit, so they are doubtful again which adds to City’s injury troubles.
John Stones, Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, Ederson, Rodri and Oscar Bobb are all still out with issues.
- As a player, Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy lost three of his six Premier League games against Manchester City (W1 D2), his highest loss rate against any side he faced more than twice in the competition (50%).
- Manchester City have lost seven of their last eight away games in all competitions (D1), having been unbeaten in 21 on the road before this. It's their longest run without an away win since a run of 10 between January and April 2011.
- Manchester City have dropped 12 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, already more than they did in the whole of 2023-24 (10). Indeed, under Pep Guardiola they've only lost more such points in 2020-21 and 2022-23 (both 13).
Leicester vs Man City: What has been said?
Man City defender Manuel Akanji is focusing on the positives despite his side continuing their dismal form last time out.
"The season is not finished,” he said after a draw against Everton.
“We need to focus game by game and the next game against Leicester City will not be easy as well now, in the shape we are in.
"We need to focus on the positives, we did a lot of things great, we defended well and we attacked well.
“But were not able to finish as well as we wanted to or we could have scored three or four goals."
