TEAM NEWS
Captain Tommy Smith could return from a hamstring injury after being an unused substitute in the draw against Cardiff. Mark Hudson will select his first Huddersfield line-up since being named as caretaker head coach.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is a doubt with a muscle problem but manager Pep Guardiola has no other fresh injury problems.
Left-back Benjamin Mendy, who has had a knee injury since November, is nearing a return but is not yet ready.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@bbcjohnmurray: It’s over three years ago since Huddersfield Town were last under caretaker management. Then, with Mark Hudson in the team, they lost 3-0 at home to West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
After this week’s most amicable parting of the ways with David Wagner, Hudson finds himself in charge of the team for a game in which a 3-0 defeat would be considered almost a minor triumph.
This match pits the lowest and highest scorers in the Premier League this season against one another. When they met in Manchester in August, City ran in six goals. With Pep Guardiola’s side in free-scoring form, the expectation this time around will be for something similar.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Huddersfield caretaker head coach Mark Hudson: “It’s been an emotional start to the week – there were a few goodbyes but since then there’s been a real focus on the training field ahead of Sunday.
“We fully respect what David Wagner has done for Huddersfield Town, and he’s done a lot for me too, as both a player and a coach.
“A Mark Hudson side will be full of intent and fight. Togetherness is something I really believe in.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: “Forget the table, the schedule – focus on Huddersfield. It will be freezing and has always been complicated against them.
“Focus on what we have to do or else that is the first step to losing points.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
City had to come from behind to win here last season through a late Raheem Sterling goal, but I think things will be more comfortable for Pep Guardiola‘s side on Sunday.
Prediction: 0-2
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Huddersfield were thumped 6-1 by Manchester City in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
- City’s 10-1 win when the teams met in the old Second Division in 1987 remains a record league win for them, and a record league defeat for Huddersfield.
Huddersfield Town
- Huddersfield have lost eight of their last nine Premier League matches, drawing the other.
- They have the worst home record in the top flight, earning just five points out of a possible 33.
- The Terriers have lost their last four home matches, equalling the club top-flight record set from December 1934 to January 1935.
- Huddersfield has only scored more than once in one of their last 32 Premier League games, failing to score on 17 occasions in that run.
- The Terriers have failed to score in 52% of their Premier League matches (31 of 60).
- Jason Puncheon could make his 200th Premier League appearance.
Manchester City
- Manchester City’s three domestic defeats this season have all come in their last seven league games – but they have won their last three matches and their last five in all competitions.
- City has conceded just seven goals away from home in this season’s Premier League; no team has let in fewer.
- They have scored 99 goals in all competitions this season, more than any other club in Europe’s top five leagues prior to the weekend.
- Manchester City has scored 19 goals in their last three games in all competitions – that’s one more than Huddersfield have managed in their last 36 matches in all competitions.
- The only goal Manchester City have conceded in 2019 came against Liverpool. Since then, City have played 296 minutes, scoring 20 goals without reply.
- Sergio Aguero has scored six goals in his last three games in all competitions against Huddersfield.
- Manchester City have never lost a Premier League match in which Gabriel Jesus has scored (W19, D1), winning each of the last 17.
Source: BBC News
