Champions
Manchester City take on Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in a clash of sides
who many consider will be fighting it out for the title come next May.
Chelsea won this corresponding fixture 1-0 last season – the only team to
come away from the Etihad in the league with a win – as Jose Mourinho’s side
did the double over Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
However City have already slipped to a home defeat this term – a 1-0 reverse
to Stoke – and followed that loss with a 2-2 home draw with Arsenal.
Those slip-ups see the champions already sitting five points behind early
league leaders Chelsea, who have four wins out of four this term.
Star striker Diego Costa has come into the side to fire the Blues to the
top, with seven goals already this campaign.
Pellegrini will have to come up with a plan to contain the striker in what
should prove a mouth-watering tactical clash with ‘Special One’ Mourinho,
who was widely praised for the tactics employed to win at the Etihad last
term.
The game is also sure to prove emotional for Chelsea's record goalscorer
Frank Lampard, who left Stamford Bridge in the summer after 13 seasons,
signing for New York City FC before being loaned to Manchester City in a
six-month deal.
Team news
City's star striker Sergio Aguero is also set to start after he was rested
for the Bayern Munich clash.
Costa will start for Chelsea against Manchester City on Sunday despite a
hamstring problem.
The striker was only a substitute in Wednesday's Champions League draw with
Schalke and cannot play more than one full game a week at present.
Manager Mourinho reported no other injury problems.
Paul Merson’s prediction
Mourinho has suggested Costa won’t play and if that happens then Man City
will win, it’s as simple as that. He's not going to play him in the Capital
One Cup so I’ve no doubt he will play in this one though.
As for Man City, they didn’t have enough pace on the break against Bayern
Munich and it was only a matter of time before they conceded to a top team.
I think City will get a result – but what the result is all depends on
whether Costa plays or not.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 if Costa plays, otherwise 2-0 to Man City.
Opta stats
Manchester City have only failed to score in two of their last 71 home
league games; against Stoke last time out and against Chelsea last season.
Chelsea have won away from home at Manchester City more often than any other
team in Barclays Premier League history (11 times).
Joe Hart should make his 200th Premier League appearance for Man City in
this game.
Eden Hazard has created the most chances (14) without recording a single
assist in the Premier League this season.
Both teams go into the clash after midweek UEFA Champions League games
against German opposition – City going down to a last-gasp 1-0 defeat at
Bayern Munich, while Chelsea were held 1-1 by Schalke.
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