Three points will be of utmost importance when Manchester City and Chelsea face off at the Etihad on Saturday evening.
The 2024/25 Premier League season continues this weekend with Gameweek 23. The action on Saturday will start with five simultaneous games before culminating with Manchester City vs Chelsea at the Etihad.
The struggles to build momentum continue for Manchester City, with the latest setback coming earlier this week against Paris Saint-Germain. Pep Guardiola’s men grabbed a two-goal lead before conceding four goals in 15 minutes to go on the brink of elimination from the UEFA Champions League.
However, the results have improved in the Premier League for Manchester City, with the home side on a five-game unbeaten run in the top flight. The latest result was a 6-0 win over Ipswich Town, with the result taking them within two points of the top four.
As for Chelsea, the Blues have slipped up in the last few weeks and could only manage a narrow 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, that result stopped the West London club’s slide while helping them leapfrog Newcastle United to the fourth spot in the Premier League standings. Enzo Maresca will hope his charges embark on a winning run after taking inspiration from the victory earlier this week.
The reverse fixture came on Gameweek 1, with Manchester City cruising to a 2-0 win over Chelsea. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester City manager might be bereft of the services of as many as five first-team players vs Chelsea on Saturday.
Guardiola is sweating over Ruben Dias’s fitness after he went off at half-time against Paris Saint-Germain. In addition, Jeremy Doku is doubtful, with the Belgian international eager to overcome his minor issue. Meanwhile, Nathan Ake (muscle), Rodri (knee), and Oscar Bobb (leg) remain on the sidelines. However, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Omar Marmoush are in contention to make their Manchester City bows.
Stefan Ortega might get the nod over Ederson Moraes between the sticks, with Manchester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Saturday. The backline should feature Rico Lewis, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol.
As for the midfield unit, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva should pair up in the double pivot, with Kevin De Bruyne reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City against Chelsea, with Phil Foden and Savinho being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo Silva; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland
Chelsea
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester City dugout, Enzo Maresca has greeted positive updates on the team news ahead of the trip to the Etihad. The Chelsea manager might be without five first-team players on Saturday.
Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez are closing in on returning to action, and the duo will face late fitness tests to determine their availability. However, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, and Omari Kellyman remain on the sidelines due to their hamstring injuries. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk is still serving a suspension after failing a doping test.
Robert Sanchez is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester City on Saturday. The backline should feature Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, Fernandez should return to the starting eleven to pair up with Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Nicolas Jackson should spearhead the Chelsea attack against Manchester City.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Key Stats
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games vs Chelsea (W5 D2) since a 2-1 home loss in May 2021. The Blues have kept only one clean sheet in their 16 most recent Premier League away games against City (1-0 in February 2014), failing to score on seven occasions in that run.
- After a run of just one win in nine Premier League games from the start of November (D2 L6), Manchester City have now won three of their last four (D1). They have scored 14 goals during this run, more than they had in their previous 11 league games (13). However, the Citizens have lost their three most recent Premier League games they have played immediately after a European midweek game, as many as they had in their previous 34 (W21 D10). The last time the Citizens lost four matches in a campaign was in 2010/11.
- Having failed to win only two of their first eight Premier League away games this season (W6 D1 L1), Chelsea are now without a victory in their three most outings on the road (D2 L1). The Blues have scored just once in these three games, having averaged 2.9 goals per game in their previous eight (23 scored in total).
- Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke have created 25 chances for each other in the Premier League this season, the most of any duo. Meanwhile, Palmer’s 17 chances created for Madueke is the most one player has created for a teammate this term.
- Kevin De Bruyne has provided four assists in his last three Premier League appearances, including two against Ipswich Town last weekend. The Belgian playmaker also has five Premier League goals against his former club Chelsea, only netting more against Arsenal in the competition (8).
Player to Watch
Phil Foden
Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland were viable candidates for this section, but we have picked the resurgent Phil Foden as our Player to Watch for Saturday’s game. The English international was dreadful in the first half of the 2024/25 season but has rediscovered his best form in his last few outings.
Foden has scored in his last three Premier League games for Manchester City, finding the back of the net five times. The Englishman has never scored in four consecutive Premier League appearances before, and he will be eager to continue his excellent run when Manchester City and Chelsea lock horns at the Etihad on Saturday.
Prediction
Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea
Manchester City may have gone on the brink of elimination from the UEFA Champions League, but they will sense the opportunity to return to the Premier League top four amid Chelsea’s struggles on the road. So, Pep Guardiola will be eager to see his charges bouncing back to winning ways.
However, Chelsea will take heart from Paris Saint-Germain’s comeback vs Manchester City and aim to take advantage of the home side’s soft underbelly. Ultimately, there might not be much to separate the two teams, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between City and Chelsea.
