Luton vs Man City predictions: Holders to battle through
- Luton have lost their last three games
- Holders Manchester City have won their last eight FA Cup ties
- Recommended bet: Manchester City to win and both teams to score
Holders Manchester City have beaten both Huddersfield and Tottenham without conceding and their FA Cup defence continues when they head to Luton on Tuesday.
The Hatters' momentum has stalled somewhat, losing their last three games and they required a replay to get past League One Bolton in the third round of this competition.
However, they fought back to win in Lancashire before beating Everton by the same 2-1 scoreline in the fourth round.
With Premier League survival their priority of the campaign, Hatters' boss Rob Edwards could see Tuesday's tie as a free hit.
Luton's attacking enthusiasm makes them dangerous, but City's quality should tell in Bedfordshire.
Team news
Luton will be without Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Mads Andersen (hamstring), Marvelous Nakamba (knee) and Jacob Brown (knee), while Alfie Doughty, Ross Barkley and Albert Sambi Lokonga could be available but face fitness tests.
Edwards may give minutes to some of his fringe players, with Tim Krul, Reece Burke and Andros Townsend contenders to start.
Pep Guardiola says both Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol could feature. Grealish returned to the bench for Saturday's 1-0 defeat of Bournemouth following a muscle injury but was not given any minutes as his side saw off the Cherries' late push for a result.
Gvardiol has been battling an ankle issue but Guardiola told reporters on Monday that he is training without pain and could be included.
The stats
Luton have lost their last three games but scored in all of those matches. In fact, they have netted in their last eight competitive outings.
The pair's Premier League clash in December finished 2-1 to the Citizens, their first meeting since 1999.
City have won their last nine away games in all competitions, conceding in six of those games.
In all, Guardiola's side are unbeaten in their last 17 matches.
Prediction
City's last two wins came against Brentford and Bournemouth and those 1-0 scorelines have hinted that they have reached the traditional stage of the season when they rock up and record routine victories.
However, they were loose at times in both games and the added jeopardy of a cup tie could make them vulnerable, with Luton unlikely to hold back.
The crowd will also be up for it at Kenilworth Road and their heroes could be similarly old school, with the visiting defence expected to face an aerial bombardment.
Luton's goal in December's league fixture came through an Adebayo header and Carlton Morris, who has played further forward in his colleague's absence, will look to test the Citizens aerially.
Even so, Guardiola's side have regularly found a way and remain in contention for a repeat treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Grinding out results has become their forte and they can make the quarter-finals for the sixth straight season.
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