Date: Sunday 4th March 2018
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
Realistically we should have beat Manchester United last week but *took our foot off the gas/let complacency creep in (*delete as appropriate) when we were never in a position to do so. Today’s game sees us take on the blue side of the city, who are head and shoulders better than United and any other side in the Premier League this season come to that, so anything less than 110% from every one of our players today will undoubtedly end in us leaving the Etihad with our pants round our ankles.
City’s last home defeat came in this fixture last season but that could’ve been a lifetime ago, with the gulf between the two sides right now. We might be the current Champions but five more wins for City takes that title off us, so they’ll be at it from the off to make sure the first of those 5 wins comes this afternoon.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Man City manager Pep Guardiola says “Right now, as we sit here, they are the champions. We want to take this crown but, not too long ago, they made amazing things. They can do it again. They have the same manager, almost the same players. They work all week preparing for the game, so it is another challenge.”
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte meanwhile, says “I think last season Manchester City were always a fantastic team. In this moment they seem unstoppable. Sometimes it’s very difficult to find a weakness in this team. Manchester City has the possibility to spend a lot of money. When you link this situation, good manager, much money to spend in the transfer market, the same ambition, this is the final result. We must be ready to fight and try to get a place for next season in the Champions League.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Man City, Fernandinho (hamstring) and Benjamin Mendy (knee) are injured, whilst Fabian Delph is suspended. Raheem Sterling is a doubt, and there is a lack of certainty around Kyle Walker *calf) who limped off during the win over Arsenal.
For Chelsea, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ethan Ampadu and David Luiz all remain out but Ross Barkley returns.
TEAMS
MAN CITY (Possible line-up): Ederson, Zinchenko, Danilo, Kompany, Otamendi, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Bernado, Sane, Aguero
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Willian, Morata, Hazard
LAST SEASON
Man City 1-3 Chelsea (3rd December 2016)
RECENT FORM (PL)
MAN CITY: LWWDWW
CHELSEA: DWLLWL
OTHER STUFF
~ City have won 13 successive Premier League home games, scoring at least twice in each.
~ City have only kept two clean sheets in their last nine home league matches.
~ Three points today equals City’s total of last season with nine games still to play.
~ City’s 75 points after 28 matches is a top-flight record
~ Man City have won five consecutive Premier League home fixtures against the reigning champions since 2010.
~ Sergio Aguero has scored five goals in his last four Premier League games against Chelsea.
~ Eden Hazard has scored four goals and assisted four in his last seven games against Manchester City.
~ Chelsea have lost three of their last four Premier League games – as many as in their previous 23.
~ Chelsea could sustain a fourth straight away loss in all competitions for the first time in 14 years.
~ Chelsea have two victories in 10 away matches in all competitions (Brighton and Huddersfield)
~ Chelsea have won just one of four Premier League games at top six sides this season.
~ A win for Chelsea could mean consecutive wins at Manchester City in the Premier League for the first time since 2008.
~ City’s only victory in their last four home league fixtures against Chelsea was 2015.
~ City’s tally of 24 defeats by Chelsea is their worst record against any Premier League opponent.
PREDICTIONS
BBC SPORT: Man City 2-0 Chelsea
Sky Sports: Man City 3-1 Chelsea
Sportsmole: Man City 2-1 Chelsea