Stoke V Man City Barclays Premier League Match 14 -September 2013.Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan is doubtful with a hamstring injury.The Potters hope Charlie Adam will be fit despite withdrawing from the Scotland squad because of a back spasm.Watch Stoke V Man City Live, Watch Stoke V Man City Live Stream, Watch Stoke V Man City Free Live Stream, Watch Stoke V Man City Online, Watch Stoke V Man City Online Free, Stoke V Man City Live, Stoke V Man City live stream Online.
Manchester City may hand a debut to Stevan Jovetic, but David Silva is out with a thigh problem.
Micah Richards is still struggling with a hamstring injury, Gael Clichy has been ruled out with a knock and new signing Martin Demichelis is set to miss six weeks with a knee injury.
MATCH PREVIEW
The honeymoon period for Manuel Pellegrini will be over if he fails to lead Manchester City to a first Premier League win at the Britannia Stadium.
Having lost at Cardiff, Pellegrini knows another defeat would cast doubts on his credibility as a potential title-winning manager. But standing in the way is Mark Hughes, who is still embittered by his dismissal from Manchester City four years ago.
Pellegrini has changed the visitors' style a little, with the result that his side carry more aerial threat. They have had more headed attempts on goal than any other top-flight club and have netted three - compared to just six headed goals in total last term.
Alvaro Negredo, who has scored seven headers since the start of last season, will be a particular danger in Stoke's land of the giants.
The £20m striker is relatively fresh too, after playing just 20 minutes for Spain this week. But the effect of the international break is bound to deplete the energy of others.
Manchester City had 12 major players away, including Argentine pair Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta, while Stoke duo Geoff Cameron and Wilson Palacios were in action for the USA and Honduras respectively.
The corresponding fixture last season also followed an international break, and Stoke looked mentally sharper as the sides played out a fourth successive 1-1 draw between the sides at the Britannia.
They go into this match looking for a fourth win on the spin in all competitions for the first time since February 2008. It would give them their best Premier League start and Mark Hughes his best ever managerial start.
He's improved their passing success rate, but goals are still at a premium. As a team that rarely dominates possession (they haven't done so since March), set-pieces will again provide their greatest threat.
Manchester City's defence was haphazard at Cardiff last month - if they're as bad again, another upset could be on.
Stoke's spirit could see them hold on for a point in a home fixture they have not lost in the top flight since September 1981.
But I have a feeling Manchester City will triumph in the Potteries in the league for the first time since Gerard Wiekens' winner in the third tier in 1999.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Stoke have never lost a Premier League game at home to Manchester City (W1, D4), although the visitors did win 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in an FA Cup fourth round tie in January.
The last four league fixtures between the sides on Stoke turf have ended 1-1.
Manchester City's last league win at Stoke was a 1-0 victory in January 1999.
Stoke City
Mark Hughes has already picked up more points in three league games as Stoke boss (six) than he did during his 12 matches as QPR manager last season (four).
Jermaine Pennant's winner at West Ham was his first league goal for 846 days (since scoring against Arsenal on 8 May 2011). Pennant has not finished on the losing side in the 12 Premier League games in which he has scored (10 wins, two draws).
The Potters are chasing a third successive league win. The last time they won three on the trot was between November and December 2012, when they beat Fulham, Newcastle and West Brom.
Manchester City
Manchester City substitutes have scored in each of their opening three Premier League fixtures. The only previous time this has happened was in 2004-05, when Arsenal replacements netted in their first five games.
Alvaro Negredo has 17 goals in his last 16 league games, including seven in his previous five.
Manchester City have not lost back-to-back Premier League away games since March-April 2011, when they were beaten at Chelsea and Liverpool.