Man City vs Reading - Predicted Line Ups & Match Preview

By Joseph Dempsey / December 21, 2012

Venue: Etihad Stadium Date: Saturday, December 22nd Kick Off: 15:00 GMT

Team News

Manchester City have a number of injury concerns ahead of their clash with the Premier League's bottom side. Vincent Kompany and Samir Nasri are both battling groin injuries, whilst Kolarov (knee) and Milner (Hamstring) are also doubtful. Jack Rodwell and Micah Richards remain out with long term injuries. Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is out with a shoulder injury, whilst this match will come too soon for defender Alex Morrison, who is nearing his return from an ankle injury. Midfielder Jem Karacan will be given a chance to prove his match fitness, but forward Jason Robert's is a doubt after picking up a knock.

Match Preview

On paper, this looks like an automatic three pointer for Premier League Champions Manchester City. Reading are propping up the table, have lost their last six games, and face a side who have lost only once at home in two years. However, the visitors will have taken heart from their display against Manchester United at the start of the month, as they played extremely well in that seven goal thriller. If they can replicate a performance like that on Saturday they might be in with an outside chance. City will be up for it though - They know a win here would close the gap on United to three points, as they do not play until Sunday. An opportunity then to put pressure on their rivals, who have a fairly tricky looking encounter away to Swansea to prepare for.

Possible Line Ups

Man City Hart, Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy, Silva, Y. Toure, Garcia, Barry, Tevez, Aguero Reading Federici, Shorey, Gorks, Mariappa, Cummings, McAnuff, Kanu, Leigertwood, McCleary, Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak source - bbc sport