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Chelsea face an uphill task on Sunday as they travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the Premier Leaguethe visitors arriving without a permanent head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
The Blues have not beaten Pep Guardiola’s side since the 2021 Champions League final, and City will be confident of extending that run as they make ground in the title race.
Chelsea’s turbulent start to the year continued on New Year’s Day, when Enzo Maresca was fired after 18 months in charge of the club.
Despite winning the Conference League and Club World Cup, the Italian paid the price for a run of two out of seven league wins and waning domestic form.
In all competitions, Chelsea have won just twice in their last nine matches, a downturn that could hardly have come at a worse time given this weekend’s trip to Manchester.
Although Chelsea are in fifth place in the table, the margins are good. They are level on points with Manchester United, just one point ahead of Sunderland and close to a cluster of teams below them, meaning another defeat could significantly damage their top four ambitions.
Manchester City, meanwhile, saw their six-game winning run in the Premier League interrupted by a goalless draw at Sunderland on Thursday. Despite long periods of dominance, Guardiola’s men failed to break down a resilient Black Cats side, allowing Arsenal to take a four-point lead at the top of the table.
City could find themselves seven points behind at kick-off if results go against them earlier in the weekend, increasing the pressure to secure maximum points against a Chelsea side in transition.
Team news for Manchester City vs Chelsea
Manchester City hosted Jeremy Doku on Thursday and gave Rodri valuable minutes, but the draw against Wearside came at a cost.
Savinho and Nico Gonzalez have both been injured and are doubtful for Sunday’s match.
They could join Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic on the sidelines, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait Nouri will remain absent from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Erling Haaland failed to score at Sunderland, but he has scored in three of his last four appearances against Chelsea and scored twice in his last outing at the Etihad.
Chelsea will be without Moises Caicedo, who is serving a one-match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and Jorrel Hato are also absent, while Marc Cucurella will be assessed.
Caretaker boss Calum McFarlane is expected to deploy Cole Palmer in an advanced midfield role, supported by Enzo Fernandez and Reece James.
Expected line-ups for Manchester City vs Chelsea
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden; Haaland
Chelsea: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; James, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Rock
How to watch Manchester City vs Chelsea: TV channel, online streaming
Kick-off on Sunday will be at 5:30 p.m. GMT (1:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a one-day subscription, £28 per month for a 12-month subscription or £34.99 per month without a contract.
Sky Sports subscriptions include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live broadcasts and a dedicated channel.
Streaming is available on a wide variety of devices via the Sky GO app.
Manchester City vs Chelsea match statistics
• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Chelsea in all competitions
• Chelsea have not won at the Etihad Stadium since May 2021
• Man City have won five of their last six Premier League matches
• Chelsea have won only two of their last nine matches in all competitions.
• City have scored at least twice in four of their last five home league matches
• Chelsea are winless in their last three away matches in the Premier League
Prediction
Manchester City
3
–
0
Chelsea
Chelsea’s journey to the Etihad was always going to be difficult, and the absence of a permanent manager only adds to the challenge facing one of the league’s most ruthless home sides.
Manchester City should have too much quality and control for a vulnerable Chelsea side.
Bet here
