Man City vs Chelsea Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Man City vs Chelsea taking place? Man City vs Chelsea will take place on Saturday 15th January, 2022 at 12:30 (UK)
Where is Man City vs Chelsea taking place? Man City vs Chelsea will take place at Etihad Stadium in Manchester
Where can I get tickets for Man City vs Chelsea? Ticket information for Man City vs Chelsea can be found on each club’s official website
What TV channel is Man City vs Chelsea on in the UK? Man City vs Chelsea will be televised live on BT Sport
Where can I stream Man City vs Chelsea in the UK? BT Sport subscribers can stream Man City vs Chelsea live via the BT Sport website & app
THE LOWDOWN
MAN CITY
- League leaders Man City have raced away to a ten-point lead over second-placed Chelsea across the Christmas period and know that three points here would all-but eliminate the Blues as a credible threat to the Premier League title with a 13-point gap extremely unlike to ever be overhauled.
- A recent outbreak of COVID-19 across the Man City camp has seen a number of players hit as well as manager Pep Guardiola, who missed his side’s FA Cup win over Swindon, however Guardiola will be back on the touchline for this game, while Riyad Mahrez is away at the Africa Cup of Nations and John Stones is doubtful through injury.
CHELSEA
- Four draws in their last five Premier League fixtures have seen Chelsea fall away from table toppers Man City in the title race, however Thomas Tuchel’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium on the back of having recorded three straight victories across both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
- Full-back is clearly a weak area for Chelsea having lost both Reece James and Ben Chilwell to injury and second-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will make just his second league appearance of the season here with Edouard Mendy away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
THE TEAM NEWS
MAN CITY
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, Grealish, Sterling
UNAVAILABLE: Delap (Injured), Mahrez (International duty)
QUESTIONABLE: Stones (Injured), Zinchenko (Isolating), Foden (Isolating)
CHELSEA
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Kepa; Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Sarr; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic; Lukaku
UNAVAILABLE: Chalobah (Injured), Chilwell (Injured), James (Injured), Mendy (International duty), Christensen (Isolating)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Chelsea will have to remain defensively compact and disciplined, no doubt well aware of Man City’s incredible ammunition going forward with the hosts boasting an attacking record that has seen them rack up 19 goals across their last five home league matches. However, if the Blues wish to mount a genuine challenge for the Premier League title in the second half of the season, then Tuchel’s men realistically need to win this match. With that in mind, they may be forced to sacrifice some of that defensively stability in a bid to find the net themselves. It’s difficult to see Chelsea keeping a clean sheet when factoring in the loss of both their first-choice goalkeeper and full-backs, not to mention having kept just one shutout across their most recent nine league matches. Don’t write the visitors off going forward though, with main forward Romelu Lukaku in good form and Tuchel a very astute manager tactically, who will no doubt have a strong plan to breach the Man City backline. Therefore, backing both teams to score looks to be the smart play in this one.
Tip: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
