Manchester City host Coventry in first meeting since 2002
Manchester City welcome newly promoted Coventry City to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday for their first meeting in 24 years, with the league leaders heavily favoured, according to Sports Illustrated.
A reunion 24 years in the making
On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Manchester City host Coventry City in Gameweek 3 of the Premier League season. As reported by Sports Illustrated, the two sides last met in 2002 in a second-tier fixture that City, then managed by Kevin Keegan, won 4-2. Coventry had been relegated from the top flight the year before and are only now returning to the Premier League after 24 years away.
A difficult start for Coventry
Frank Lampard led Coventry to the Championship title last season, but their top-flight return has been rocky. A 3-0 defeat at Arsenal was expected, but a 1-0 home loss to fellow-promoted Hull City was a bigger setback. Lampard is still integrating nine new signings, and per SI, a trip to the Etihad after that result was "the last thing" the manager wanted.
City riding high
Manchester City sit top of the table following a 4-1 win at Crystal Palace, after an earlier, less convincing victory over Bournemouth that required a second-half comeback. Erling Haaland scored twice against Palace after a quiet season opener, while Rayan Cherki has continued his productive start. SI notes that Joško Gvardiol is taking on an advanced attacking role from left-back.
Numbers and prediction
Sports Illustrated highlights that City are unbeaten in their last 30 Premier League matches against newly promoted sides, winning 27, with their only defeat in that run coming against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United in April 2021. The outlet predicts a 4-0 City win.
Lineups and injuries
City are expected to be unchanged from the Palace win, with Jérémy Doku (calf) and Matheus Nunes still doubts: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, O'Reilly; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland. For Coventry, Taiwo Awoniyi is expected to keep his starting spot up front, while Haji Wright, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Luke Woolfenden remain sidelined, with the latter two expected back next month.
Kick-off is at 15:00 BST, with Paul Tierney refereeing.
