Chelsea v Manchester City: Team news & predictions

The game kicks off at 2000 GMT at Stamford Bridge, live on BT Sport 1 HD.

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Chelsea v Manchester City: Our prediction 

David John says: Chelsea’s shock defeat to Crystal Palace at the weekend might have briefly breathed new life into the pursuing pack at the top of the Premier League but normal service can be resumed with the hosts fancied to sweep aside one of their rivals at Stamford Bridge.

It is hardly the end of the world for Chelsea as the Eagles took two early chances well and spent the rest of the game with their tin hats on as attack after attack threatened the visitors’ penalty area.

They could have nicked a third on the break but it can’t be classed as an off day from Antonio Conte’s side and was simply a case of not finding a way through either down to their own wastefulness or Wayne Hennessey springing into action during a career performance. 

One defeat seems to have observers suddenly picking holes in a team that 10 minutes before kick-off on Saturday they were ready to hand the title to with a bow on top and the current Chelsea simply don’t become bad overnight.

There may be a slight worry the goals from Diego Costa have dried up (missed a sitter with a header from three yards) a little while the absence of Victor Moses at wing-back left Chelsea vulnerable to pacy breaks on the counter-attack – a clear and present threat once more when hosting City.

But Conte has not won a plethora of league titles during his career by resting on his laurels and any necessary tweaks needed to help bolster what remains an excellent defensive unit will be made.

City flashed their usual brilliance in patches against Arsenal but the fact they twice squandered a lead and could not put the Gunners away in a dominant opening spell highlights their own fragility. 

The game rather petered out as well midway through the second half suggesting there were more than a few weary bodies amongst Pep Guardioala’s men and a day less to recover than Chelsea has to be an issue for what will most likely be a high-tempo encounter.    

This looks more of a mental rather than a physical or tactical test for Chelsea but is one any potential champion has to pass at some stage of the season before being crowned.

The hosts at odds-against look a decent bet considering all the flaws City still have to deal with so his can be the night Chelsea retake command and end any flickering hope for the visitors from up north.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Manchester City  

Chelsea v Manchester City: Opta facts 

Chelsea haven’t lost back-to-back home league games against Manchester City since December 1983.

Pep Guardiola has never previously lost both league games against a single opponent in a season as a manager in his career so far. 

After winning eight Premier League games in a row against Manchester City between 2005 and 2009, the Blues have won just five of their last 15 against them in the top-flight (D3 L7). 

There have been four red cards in the last five league meetings between these sides, with three being shown to Man City players. 

Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season as City won 3-0 – one of just three opposing players to hit a treble in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge (Kanu in October 1999 and Robin van Persie in October 2011). 

Sergio Aguero has scored six Premier League goals against Chelsea, with four of those coming at Stamford Bridge. 

Antonio Conte hasn’t lost consecutive home league defeats as a manager since November 2009 while in charge of Atalanta. 

Chelsea haven’t lost back to back Premier League games at Stamford Bridge since November 2011 under Andre Villas-Boas. 

Manchester City have lost just one of their last six Premier League games in London (W3 D2). 

Kevin De Bruyne has now assisted 13 goals this season for Man City in all competitions, one more than he managed last season.    

Chelsea v Manchester City: Sky Bet odds

Premier League leaders Chelsea have been priced up by Sky Bet as the 7/5 favourites to win at home to Manchester City on Wednesday night. Antonio Conte’s Blues are also on offer at 5/2 in Sky Bet’s Correct Score Group Betting to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. City are 19/10 outsiders to return north with three points and the draw is available at 12/5. Chelsea striker Diego Costa is the 7/2 favourite in Sky Bet’s first goalscorer prices and his team-mate Eden Hazard is priced up at 6/1 to open the scoring. The top City contender is Sergio Aguero at 9/2.     

Click for Sky Bet's Chelsea v Manchester City odds!  

Chelsea v Manchester City: Team news 

Victor Moses is an injury doubt when Premier League leaders Chelsea play Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

The right wing-back missed Saturday's loss to Crystal Palace with a toe injury and is one of "two or three situations" to be monitored before the City match.

Eden Hazard played against Palace following a calf injury which saw him miss international duty with Belgium, while David Luiz is still managing a knee injury sustained against City in December.

Manchester City will be without right-back Bacary Sagna for Wednesday's Premier League trip to leaders Chelsea.

The France international could be out for a further three weeks with a groin strain suffered while on international duty last month.

Striker Gabriel Jesus (foot) is back in training but not yet ready to return while midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (knee) remains on the sidelines.

Teams

Chelsea (from): Courtois, Begovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Alonso, Kante, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Moses, Pedro, Costa, Matic, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Luiz, Eduardo, Aina, Ake.

Manchester City (from): Caballero, Bravo, Zabaleta, Kompany, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure, Delph, Sane, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Nolito, Navas, Aguero, Iheanacho.

Chelsea v Manchester City: Manager quotes 

Antonio Conte (Chelsea)

On David Luiz's injury sustained against Man City: "I think now his knee is better than before and for sure he needs to have the treatment.

"It's not important (the game at City). We must understand that when there is a game and above all if someone is losing the game, it can happen this type of situation. I have great respect for Aguero."

On the title race: "It's normal with 27 points available that anything can happen in the league. 

"We need 21 points to win the league mathematically. I think we are in a really good position.

"Nobody thought that Chelsea could fight this season for the title, but we stay there. We stay there and we want to keep this position.

"We know there are many teams that want to win the league, but it's normal this.

"I hope that who wins this league will deserve to win the league."

On the Crystal Palace defeat: "It's an important part of the season, but we have to continue in the same way, to work, to work very, very hard. To prepare in the right way every single game. To keep concentration.

"I'm pleased for my players. I'm always seeing great commitment of my players.

"It can happen. You can lose a game, but I think we didn't deserve to lose the game against Crystal Palace.

"Football is wonderful also for this type of result. Tomorrow we have another game."

On his first year in charge at Chelsea: "The time fly.

"It's good. For me this is a fantastic experience and good experience for me, for my family also.

"It's great to stay here, above all to talk about to win the league. It wasn't sure one year ago."

Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)

On Chelsea being able to focus on domestic football: "For Chelsea, the focus they have is to win the title. Obviously they play less games than the other ones. They and Liverpool have played much much less, they have had more time to prepare what the manager wants to prepare.

"But it doesn't matter what my opinion is. Chelsea will be in Europe next season and a tough team again. All the players they have quality and mentality to play two or three competitions at the same time."

On Sergio Aguero's tackle on David Luiz: "We can talk about Sergio and many things but we are not to going to talk about Sergio and say he is not calm. We are not going to say Sergio Aguero is a dangerous player, please.

"The reaction, what happened with Sergio and Fernandinho, was our frustration on the pitch in that moment.

"Fernandinho is another guy who is aggressive but is one of the sweetest and nicest guys I have ever met. What happened happened, but Sergio and Fernandinho are nice guys. With the way we want to play there is no doubt about that."

On Gabriel Jesus' injury: "Yesterday was the first day he started to go to the pitch to run and walk. I don't know exactly how many weeks he needs to come back but I think he is at the end of the part of the process to come back, so we will see. Hopefully he can help us in the last games at the end of the season."