[7:30 AM] Chelsea @ Manchester City

What will be the match result?

Chelsea: Win or Draw

@ Manchester City: Win

 

Recent Results:

Chelsea: 4-0-1

Manchester City: 3-2-0

 

• No changes are expected from Antonio Conte, who is free to pick the same XI for the seventh league game in a row. John Terry is still sidelined with John Obi Mikel, while Kurt Zouma and Marco van Ginkel are not ready to return to first team action. Diego Costa has been stuck on four bookings for his last eight matches and remains one yellow off a one-match suspension.

• Pep Guardiola likes to spring a tactical surprise and expect one here. He could look to match Chelsea’s back three with a similar system of his own, which may require Fernandinho to drop into defence as Vincent Kompany is injured. Alternatively, Bacary Sagna or Aleksandar Kolarov could be pulled into the back three. Raheem Sterling was forced off in City’s 2-1 win over Burnley at the weekend before the hour mark with a knock and is a doubt here.

• This eagerly anticipated fixture will see two of the most tactically astute managers come together in what could land an early blow in the destination of the Premier League title. Chelsea have won each of their last seven matches in the Premier League and are currently one-point clear of Manchester City ahead of Saturday’s early kick-off. Antonio Conte’s side have only conceded one-goal in that time, meaning City will need to be at their best to break down Chelsea’s defence.

• City, meanwhile, have only kept two clean sheets all season and aren’t in their best moment despite being unbeaten in their last six league matches. Each of their last two matches have only been settled by a one-goal margin and they will need to improve if they are to become the first team to stop Chelsea from winning since September.

• Pep Guardiola’s side have won five of the last six home meetings against Chelsea but Conte, who was one of the managers Guardiola was most concerned about upon his Premier League switch, could continue Chelsea’s fine form with a win at the weekend.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Chelsea: Win or Draw

Confidence: 5/10

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