Luton vs Man City Prediction and Betting Tips: Citizens to cruise through

It is the time in the season when Manchester City start to go through the gears and, having won 13 of their last 14 matches in all competitions, they will be expected to see off the challenge of Premier League strugglers Luton in this FA Cup fifth-round tie.

While title-chasing City are in ominous form, winning nine away games in a row, Luton have lost three on the spin to be dragged into the Premier League’s relegation zone.

The Hatters gave City a scare in the league at Kenilworth Road in December, as they led 1-0 before second-half strikes from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva completed a dramatic turnaround, and their latest rivalry should make for another entertaining encounter.

Luton remain without Jacob Brown, Mads Andersen, Marvelous Nakamba, Elijah Adebayo and Tom Lockyer while Alfie Doughty and Albert Sambi Lokonga must be assessed before being given the all clear.

Things look a lot rosier for City, who have Josko Gvardiol and Grealish back in training so have no confirmed absentees.

Kevin De Bruyne has been on the bench in City’s last two matches but the Belgian should be fit to start while Kyle Walker, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku could all make the starting line-up having been substitutes in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth.

Predicted line-ups

Luton (3-4-3) : Krul; Burke, Mengi, Bell; Ogbene, Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty; Chong, Morris, Townsend.

Man City (3-2-4-1): Ortega; Walker, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Stones; B Silva, Alvarez, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland.

Manchester City will have high hopes of lifting the FA Cup for successive seasons and, having gone unbeaten in 17 games since suffering a shock 1-0 loss at Aston Villa at the beginning of December, it is hard to make much of a case for a surprise Luton success.

The Citizens were able to tweak their line-up at Bournemouth on Saturday so are at full strength for the trip to Luton, who have lost three straight matches to Sheffield United, Manchester United and Liverpool.

However, the Hatters scored in all of those reverses meaning they have now netted in their last seven defeats, which includes in a 2-1 loss at home to City in December.

Luton have impressed going forward all season, having failed to score in only two of their last 20 matches in all competitions, and a consolation strike is well within their grasp against the Citizens.

Pep Guardiola’s side have kept only three clean sheets in 13 away matches in the Premier League this season and even in their latest 1-0 win over Bournemouth the Cherries had 13 shots and should have made more of their chances.

Luton have scored at home to Liverpool, Arsenal, City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League this term and, although likely to come out second best, they can get on the scoresheet again.

In what should be a high-scoring City win, a refreshed Alvarez should have a crucial role to play and looks a nice price to add to his goalscoring tally.

The Argentinian played only 15 minutes in Saturday’s win at Bournemouth so should get the nod from the start at Kenilworth Road and he has grabbed eight goals and seven assists in 26 appearances for City this season.