This weekend’s Premier League fixtures will once again be headlined by Chelsea as they prepare to host treble winners Manchester City in a Sunday afternoon spectacle at Stamford Bridge.
Man City recently encountered a rare stumble in form but responded emphatically, netting 17 goals in five games across all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s squad now tops the Premier League standings, capitalizing on slips from Tottenham, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino has showered praise on Manchester City, labeling them as the ‘best team in the world.’ However, he asserts that Chelsea won’t be underdogs in their upcoming Super Sunday clash, with Guardiola acknowledging that sooner or later, the Blues will emerge as title contenders.
Despite a resounding 4-1 victory against Tottenham in their last outing, Chelsea recognizes the need for improvement, especially as they still struggled for large periods against nine-man Spurs. The chaotic London clash saw Nicolas Jackson’s hat trick settle the game in injury time, revealing vulnerabilities even with a numerical advantage.
Chelsea’s recent November form, marked by wins against Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham, contrasts with their mid-table position. They currently languish in 10th place, nine points adrift from both the top four and the relegation zone. Their home performances have been erratic, securing just one Premier League win in their last 13 Stamford Bridge matches, a victory against newcomers Luton Town.
Looking to exploit Chelsea’s struggles, Manchester City aims for a seventh consecutive win over the London side. City’s recent dominance is reflected in their remarkable goal-scoring prowess at Etihad, averaging a goal every 20 minutes in their two most recent battles.
Guardiola’s men secured a spot in the Champions League knockout stages with ease, outclassing Young Boys in midweek. Erling Haaland’s performance, coupled with Phil Foden’s finesse, underlined City’s superiority. City’s only points dropped this season came on the road, where they’ve also struggled to keep clean sheets.
Notably, Chelsea’s January defeat at Stamford Bridge is still fresh in memory, as City claimed a 1-0 win, preceding a 4-0 FA Cup thumping and a 1-0 Etihad success in May. Chelsea faces the challenge of breaking a goalless streak against City since the 2021 Champions League final.
TEAM NEWS
Levi Colwill’s halftime withdrawal against Tottenham was a tactical decision, and he is expected to play. Mykhailo Mudryk is fit again, providing Pochettino with potential options in the forward line.
Enzo Fernandez, who fell victim to a red card-worthy tackle on Monday, is likely to be available for Sunday’s clash after being pictured in training. However, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka remain unavailable.
Chelsea’s Armando Broja returns after a month-long knee injury, while Reece James is set to feature against the champions. John Stones is expected to be out for an extended period with a thigh injury, adding to Manchester City’s defensive worries. Kevin De Bruyne remains absent due to a severe thigh issue, but Erling Haaland, recovering from an ankle knock, is fit and in form. Nathan Ake is expected to be recalled to the backline.
Date, Kick-off Time, and Venue
Chelsea vs Manchester City is scheduled for a 4:30 pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at Stamford Bridge in west London.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn.
Fourth official: Craig Pawson.
VAR: Jarred Gillett.
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.
POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUPS
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Manchester City: Sanchez; James, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson.
Manchester City predicted lineup vs Chelsea: Ederson; Dias; Ake; Gvardiol; Walker; Rodri; Kovacic; Doku; Silva; Alvarez; Haaland.
