manchester City
Manchester's City's Sergio Aguero falls in the penalty area during their Champions League match against CSKA Moscow at the Etihad stadium in Manchester Reuters

Manchester City play hosts to Swansea City at the Etihad Stadium in an afternoon kick-off on Saturday.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match of the Day on BBC One from 10:30pm GMT.

Overview

Manchester City have been in woeful form of late and need to get back to their best to keep their hopes of retaining the Premier League title alive.

Chelsea are eight points ahead with less than three quarters of the season left and any lapse in concentration here will prove fatal to their hopes of ending the season with yet another major trophy.

Their Champions League hopes are all but gone, currently languishing at the bottom of the group with two points, having suffered an ignominious loss against minnows CSKA Moscow at home. The Citizens host Bayern Munich in their next game where a loss will all but end their hopes of making it to the knockout stages.

The pressure is on Manuel Pellegrini to deliver, and failure may lead to the same fate as his predecessor Roberto Mancini, who was shown the door in spite of having won City their first Premier League trophy in decades.

Injury-hit Vincent Kompany and David Silva are doubtful for the game and both players are expected to be back only to play against the Germans in a midweek encounter.

Swansea will be high on confidence, having seen off Arsenal in their last game at the Liberty Stadium. Gary Monk's side were a goal down before showing immense resolve to turn the game around and score an unlikely winner, which moved them into the top five.

A win here will be a major shot in the arm for the Welsh club, who are looking to find the same rhythm and efficiency they once achieved under Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup.

Wilfried Bony
Wilfried Bony will be a force to reckon for Manchester City Getty

What Managers Say

Manuel Pellegrini: "I think December and this week of November are decisive months for the Premier League. We are going to play eight games in the Premier League, we are going to finish the first round at the end of December. We have 24 more points to try to win. We have to try to do it, I think that is the only way. I think maybe we will not to be top of the table because Chelsea is in a very good moment, but I think it is important to have a good first round. That is more than 41 or 42 points."

Gary Monk: "The players they have to come in would get in most sides. They're a good side. It's a tough proposition for us but one we look forward to. The players relish playing them to see how far they've come as individuals and a group and we can see how far we have come."

Betting Odds(By 888Sport.com)

  • Manchester City win: 7/19
  • Draw: 21/5
  • Swansea City win: 125/17

Form Guide

Manchester City

  • Last Five(all competitions): L L W L D
  • Last Result: QPR 2-2 Manchester City

Swansea

  • Last Five(all competitions): L W L D L
  • Last Result: Swansea 2-1 Arsenal

Team News

Manchester City

  • Injured: Fernández (calf), Donnelly (ankle), Richards (knee)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Clichy; Milner, Fernando, Toure, Nasri; Jovetic, Aguero

Swansea

  • Injured: Kompany (calf), Silva (knee), Kolarov (calf)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Shelvey, Ki; Montero, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Bony

Manchester City FC Swansea City FC Premier League