Following the sacking of David Wagner as manager, albeit described as a mutual decision, Huddersfield have a huge test at home against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Many will rightly predict a heavy loss for Huddersfield, but could the change of command bring about a similar upturn in fortune as seen at Manchester United in recent weeks?

Current Form

Huddersfield

Huddersfield have endured a terrible season so far and are currently sat right at the bottom of the Premier League table in 20th place on just 11 points. In what appears to be a last-ditch effort to escape the relegation drop, Wagner has been let go from his role as manager. However, with 40 points often touted as the safety margin to avoid relegation, Huddersfield will need to find a way to add at least 29 points to their total by the end of the season. With just 16 games to go, Huddersfield would require an average of around 1.81 points per game to save themselves. This seems highly unlikely but stranger things have happened in football. Over the previous 5 fixtures, Huddersfield have lost 4 and drawn 1, but it should be noted that this team have only won 2 Premier League games so far this season.

Statistically, all the evidence points to a team in freefall. Huddersfield have scored just 13 times this season, an average of 0.59 goals per game. Defensively, they have also been poor having conceded 37 times, an average of 1.68 goals per game. As obvious as it is to say, this team desperately needs to score more while simultaneously tightening up the defensive lines if they are to have any chance at all. This isn't a team that has issues in just one area, but rather all over the pitch.

Manchester City

Manchester City are currently 2nd in the Premier League table on 53 points, 4 points behind leaders Liverpool, and now 5 points clear of 3rd placed Tottenham. After a run of poor form they have bounced back with 3 straight wins to keep themselves in the title race. Over the previous 5 fixtures, Manchester City have won 3 and lost 2.

The statistics show that Guardiola's team are certainly one of the best in the world. They've scored 59 times so far this season, an average of 2.68 goals per game. Defensively, they've also been sound having conceded 17 times, an average of 0.77 goals per game.

Head to Head

In the previous 10 meetings between the clubs, Manchester City won 4, Huddersfield won 2, and there were 4 draws. It should be noted, however, that the two clubs have only faced off against each other 5 times since Manchester City were bankrolled to success with oil money and, in that time, Manchester City won 3 and drew 2.

Analysis

Huddersfield

Had this game taken place last week then it would be rare to find anyone who would make a claim for Huddersfield to get any kind of result. This team has been through a severe lack of positive form for the entire season so far. Having won just 2 games out of a possible 22, relegation to the Championship feels almost inevitable at this point. The only way out of this crisis is for the change in management to have such a positive effect on the team that they manage to go out and beat all the teams around them while also taking points from the bigger teams in the league. You could point to the fact that Manchester United have now won 6 games in a row since their change of manager but it's important to remember that they had a much stronger squad to begin with and were underperforming under Mourinho. Whether this Huddersfield team is underperforming or simply not good enough to play in the Premier League will become apparent over the next few months.

A change of manager often provides an acute reaction with the players who will be looking to make a statement that they're better than perceived. Increased energy levels and perhaps a change of tactics is to be expected but it's a big ask to get a result against the likes of Manchester City. Perhaps the best chance of doing so would be for the players to feed off the energy of the home fans and look to make the game physical and try to shock Manchester City by playing with confidence. Should this Huddersfield team sit back and try to defend then Guardiola's team will rip them to shreds and it could become another disappointing day for the home supporters.

Manchester City

This should be a routine win for Manchester City but they will be aware that personnel changes can make a difference to how a team plays. Perhaps the biggest issue for Guardiola here is trying to calculate how Huddersfield will approach the game. With a different manager, there could be changes to the starting 11, formations, and even tactics. This is almost impossible for Manchester City to plan for as there is no history to observe.

However, Manchester City are a much greater footballing team than Huddersfield and should be able to get the job done even with a buoyant team and crowd in front of them. Should Guardiola's team manage to dominate possession, which is likely, then it feels almost certain that they'll win the game by quite some distance. The biggest weakness for Manchester City here would be complacency. Over the years, many lower league teams have caused a shock by defeating a much better side, and this is something that could happen if Manchester City don't take the opposition seriously.

Predictions

Had Huddersfield been facing off against a mid-table team then this prediction would likely have favoured them more, but Manchester City are a very good footballing side. For that reason, my prediction would be for a Manchester City win but there is part of me that feels that Huddersfield could cause a shock.

Betting Picks

Although Manchester City will most likely take all 3 points, the change of manager at Huddersfield means I'm willing to take a risk 'just in case' here. I've opted for a couple of small stakes on Huddersfield to win at odds of 23.6 and Huddersfield to win or draw at odds of 5.78.

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