Since the Arab takeover City have become the richest club in the world and will be looking to break into the Champions League spots this season. As we all know they bought Robinho on transfer deadline day for a ridiculous amount of money and will be expected to bring in more big name players in January.
Like Pompey, City played in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and recorded a 2-1 win at Omonia Nicosia. They have also won two and lost two in the league so I think this will be a very even contest.
Mark Hughes has hinted that he may make a couple of changes from the victory in Cyrpus, likewise for Harry Redknapp who will probably rest Armand Traore and revert to the 3-5-2 system used against Everton a fortnight ago.
That means Nadir Belhadj will play at left back whilst Papa Bouba Diop and either Younes Kaboul or Hermann Hriedarsson will play at centre back alongside Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin.
Distin and David James will be returning to their former club so it's probable that they'll either be man-of-the-match candidates or they'll make a huge blunder like Jamo did last season. Redknapp was chasing Shaun Wright-Phillips and Richard Dunne for some time in the summer so what are the chances that they'll make an impact tomorrow?
At least Benjani can't score against us this time as he is sidelined with injury as is Martin Petrov who caused us endless problems last season. Michael Johnson is also a doubt so Elano could start.
This is a tough one to predict and could go either way. City will be buoyed by their new investment whilst we have played some excellent football in the last few games and have and in-form striker in Jermain Defoe.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Man City
GK: Joe HART
RB: Pablo ZABALETA
CB: Richard DUNNE
CB: Micah RICHARDS
LB: Javier GARRIDO
RM: Shaun WRIGHT-PHILLIPS
CM: Blumer ELANO
CM: Vincent KOMPANY
LM: Stephen IRELAND
SS: ROBINHO
CF: JO
Pompey
GK: David JAMES
CB: Younes KABOUL
CB: Sol CAMPBELL
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
RWB: Glen JOHNSON
CM: Papa BOUBA DIOP
CM: Sean DAVIS
CM: Lassana DIARRA
LWB: Nadir BELHADJ
CF: Jermain DEFOE
CF: Peter CROUCH
Pundit Watch
Lawro: Home Win (1-0)
Sky Sports: Home Win (2-1)
Soccernet: Draw
My Prediction: Our record there isn't too good and I think Wright-Phillips is a banker to score but I feel we can also find the net. It should be an entertaining game at Eastlands.
Manchester City 1 Portsmouth 1