Chelsea vs Manchester City, team news, line-ups and prediction

Manchester City will be looking to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table when they take on Chelsea in a heavyweight clash at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. 

This is the first of two meetings between the two sides in a matter of days as the two English giants also face-off against each other in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, this time at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the focus will be on Premier League matters on Thursday and Chelsea desperately need a positive result to get their season back on track after a hugely disappointing start to the 2022/23 campaign.

Graham Potter’s side had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day meaning they have now won just one of their last six league games, with the Blues tasting defeat four times during that period.

This disastrous run has pilled the pressure on Potter with many fans now calling for his head with Chelsea languishing way down in 10th position in the table after 16 games. Victory on Thursday could lift them up to seventh but they are still well off the top four so Potter is feeling the heat.

Things aren’t going to get any easier for the former Brighton boss as Chelsea now welcome the reigning Premier League champions to West London.

Manchester City were also held to a surprise draw in their last outing as Everton left the Etihad Stadium with a shock 1-1 result on New Year’s Eve. Demarai Gray cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first half opener to secure a much needed point for Frank Lampard’s men.

Pep Guardiola will now be calling on his players to capatalise on leaders Arsenal’s failure to beat third-placed Newcastle United on Tuesday night. The two sides played out a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium to leave the Gunners eight points clear at the top of the table.

However, City can cut that advantage to just five points if they win their game in hand at Chelsea and open up the gap on Newcastle to four points, so this is a huge opportunity for the Citizens.

Team news

Chelsea have mounting injury problems and they will continue to be without the services of N’Golo Kante as the Frenchman is still working his way back from a long-term injury. Striker Armando Broja is also another absentee for the Londoners while Reece James is facing another month on the sidelines after suffering a set-back in his recovery from a knee injury.

Wesley Fofana remains a major doubt as he’s not match fit yet after a lengthy lay-off while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is out with a shoulder issue. However, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is back in training from a calf injury and could return to the Chelsea squad. Ben Chilwell is also edging closer to his return, but this game may come too soon for the left-back.

As for Man City, they will be without Ruben Dias as the centre-back is out with a hamstring injury. Aymeric Laporte is also a doubt due to a back problem but he’ll be given a late fitness test to see if he can return to action.

Julian Alvarez is pushing for a start after being named on the bench against Everton following his World Cup exploits with Argentina. Guardiola is likely to make changes with the likes of Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo pushing for recalls.

Likely line-ups

Kepa Arrizabalaga has cemented himself as Chelsea’s No.1 so he’ll keep his place in goal while Thiago Silva will marshal the defence along with Kalidou Koulibaly. Summer signing Marc Cucurella should keep his place on the left while Cesar Azpilicueta should start on the right.

Mateo Kovacic could replace Jorginho in midfield with Denis Zakaria keeping his place in the middle of the park. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may be recalled to lead the line up front for the Blues with Kai Havertz making way. Raheem Sterling should start once again after scoring against Forest, Christian Pulisic could keep his place while Mason Mount should also start once again. Hakim Ziyech and Conor Gallagher will therefore have to settle for places on the bench.

City could bring Cancelo in at left-back with Nathan Ake dropping out while Walker should start at right-back. Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne may be joined by Gundogan in midfield with Foden recalled in attack. Bernardo could keep his place while Haaland is certain to start up front so Riyad Mahrez could be the man to make way.

Alvarez may have to settle for a place on the bench once again while Jack Grealish may find himself back among the City substitutes after a disappointing display against Everton.

Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Kovacic, Zakaria; Sterling, Mount, Pulisic; Aubameyang

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Cancelo; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Silva, Haaland, Foden

How to watch

Chelsea vs Manchester City is one of the most highly anticipated matches of the season and it should be an entertaining game in the capital. Manchester City tickets are always in high demand but it will be extremely difficult to bag a ticket in the away end for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Luckily, the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, kicking off at 8pm on Thursday night. Subscribers can watch the match live on Sky Sports on their TV or via the Sky Go app on their laptop, tablet or mobile device. Those who don’t have a subscription may have to wait to watch official highlights after the game.

Prediction

Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-0 in the League Cup back in November and they’ll be confident of securing a similar score-line this time around. Chelsea are in disarray and the pressure is fully on Potter to get their season back on track quickly. The Blues aren’t known for giving their managers lots of time to turn things around so another defeat on Thursday would be a disaster.

Guardiola’s men failed to break down Everton last time out but that was an exception rather than the rule, and with Erling Haaland already surpassing 20 league goals this season, City should have too much firepower for Chelsea in West London. There is a very good reason they are still the favourites to win the title, despite being eight points adrift of the Gunners as things stand.

The Blues are usually a match for any club on home soil and do have the talent to cause teams problems, but we predict Manchester City easing to victory at Stamford Bridge to close the gap on Arsenal to just five points. Chelsea 1-3 Man City