Manchester City and Chelsea will face off at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening, with both teams now focused on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League after seeing their title hopes slip away earlier in the season. This will be the first meeting between the sides since their opening game of the season in August, when City won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City were looking like they had found their stride, going on a six-game unbeaten run with 23 goals scored and just four conceded. However, their momentum came to a sudden halt with a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Despite leading 2-0 early in the second half, Pep Guardiola's side crumbled, conceding three goals in just 22 minutes, with Goncalo Ramos adding a fourth for PSG in stoppage time. That loss left City on the brink of failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, sitting 25th in the group and needing a win against Club Brugge next week to secure a spot in the last 16.
Man City have now failed to win nine games this season when they were ahead, the most of any Premier League team, and will have to bounce back quickly with a tough run of Premier League fixtures ahead, including matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest—games that could make or break their season.
City's recent record after European midweek matches has been poor, losing their last three Premier League games in that scenario. However, they are unbeaten in their last seven league encounters with Chelsea (W5 D2).
Chelsea, on the other hand, have steadied the ship after a rough patch around the New Year (D2 L2), winning two and drawing one of their last three matches. The Blues recently earned four points from their last two Premier League home games, beating Wolves 3-1 after drawing 2-2 with Bournemouth.
Head coach Enzo Maresca was pleased to see his team return to the top four, two points ahead of Manchester City, and despite feeling they could have scored more against Wolves, he’s happy with the improvement. Chelsea have struggled against City in recent years, failing to win any of their last 10 meetings (D2 L8), with their last victory over City coming in the 2021 Champions League final. Chelsea’s last Premier League win at the Etihad was in 2021, and they’ve struggled on the road lately, without a win in their last three away games (D2 L1).
While Chelsea have earned more points away from home than at Stamford Bridge this season, they head into this match with a poor record at the Etihad, having kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 Premier League matches against City, and failing to score in seven of those encounters.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Ruben Dias was substituted at halftime during Manchester City's defeat to PSG due to an adductor injury, and Guardiola has confirmed that he’ll miss Saturday's game. Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku (both with unspecified injuries), Oscar Bobb (fitness issues), and Rodri (ACL) are all still sidelined. Additionally, Kyle Walker is on his way to AC Milan.
City have strengthened their squad this week with three new signings: Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis. Guardiola has said all three are available for selection and have been involved in training, but it's unclear if any of them will start against Chelsea.
Jack Grealish, who contributed to both of City’s goals as a substitute in midweek, will be pushing for a starting spot. However, Guardiola is likely to stick with Savinho on the left wing, with Kevin De Bruyne—who’s scored five Premier League goals against Chelsea—expected to play just behind Erling Haaland in attack.
For Chelsea, Romeo Lavia (muscle), Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) will all miss out. Levi Colwill (unspecified) and Enzo Fernandez (muscle) are both doubts and will be assessed before the match.
Despite Robert Sanchez's recent mistakes, including one against Wolves last time out, Maresca has defended his first-choice goalkeeper and may keep him in the lineup. Filip Jorgensen is ready to step in if needed.
Reece James’ fitness is in question, so Malo Gusto could come back into the starting XI at right-back. In midfield, if Fernandez isn’t fit to start, we could see Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall alongside Moises Caicedo.
Former City winger Jadon Sancho will be hoping to start ahead of either Noni Madueke or Pedro Neto, while Cole Palmer—another ex-City player—looks set to continue in a central attacking role behind striker Nicolas Jackson.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea
We could be in for an exciting game at the Etihad, with two attack-focused teams who’ve both had their struggles defensively this season.
Man City will be hoping their new January signings can make an impact, and they’ve had a solid recent record against Chelsea. However, Maresca’s side could still find a way to frustrate the hosts and walk away with a point.
