Manchester City vs Chelsea preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

The Italian left his role on New Year’s Day after only 18 months, despite winning the Conference League and the first edition of the repackaged FIFA Club World Cup.

City’s momentum was briefly checked on New Year’s Day as they were held to a goalless draw by Sunderland, a result that saw Pep Guardiola’s side surrender ground at the top of the table. 

While that stalemate ended a six-game Premier League winning streak, Guardiola struck an unusually relaxed tone afterwards, content with the point and the performance.

A return to home surroundings should offer an ideal platform for a response. City have turned the Etihad into a fortress once again, winning eight straight league matches there and regularly overwhelming opponents, scoring at least three goals in seven of those victories. 

Their authority against fellow top-eight sides has been particularly striking, with four home wins in such fixtures this season all coming without conceding.

Chelsea arrive in Manchester amid significant uncertainty. Maresca stepped down on New Year’s Day after an 18-month spell that delivered silverware in the Conference League and the inaugural revamped Club World Cup, but his exit has left the Blues searching for stability. 

Academy boss Calum McFarlane takes temporary charge, tasked with arresting a worrying league run that has produced just one win from their last seven outings.

The timing could hardly be tougher. Chelsea have a poor record in opening league fixtures of a calendar year and have found Pep Guardiola’s City an immovable obstacle in recent seasons. 

The Londoners have not beaten City since their Champions League final triumph in 2021, with the reigning champions unbeaten in the last eight Premier League meetings between the sides.

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City’s recent dominance of this fixture is clear, having avoided defeat in 11 consecutive meetings across all competitions. 

Their current eight-game unbeaten league run against Chelsea matches their longest ever such streak against the Blues in Premier League history.

City picked up fresh injury concerns at Sunderland, with Savinho and Nico Gonzalez both forced off. 

They could join Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic on the sidelines, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri remain away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Chelsea’s injury list is also lengthy. Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and Jorrel Hato are all unavailable, while Marc Cucurella will be assessed late on. 

A major blow comes in midfield, with Moises Caicedo suspended after accumulating five bookings.

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden; Haaland

Chelsea: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; James, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro

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Chelsea’s organisational challenges and absentees make this an unforgiving assignment, particularly against a City side that rarely shows mercy at home. 

If the champions find their usual attacking rhythm, this could quickly slip away from the visitors.

Correct score prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea

Betting tips:

Manchester City to win

Manchester City to score over 1.5 goals

Erling Haaland to score anytime