Date and Time: 15th December 2021 @6 PM IST
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Manchester City vs Chelsea Where to watch?
India: Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Manchester City vs Chelsea Team News:
It is unclear how many of the anonymous contingent of Manchester City’s COVID-19 pandemic will be permitted to return to the club after their triumph over Swindon. Phil Foden and Oleksandr Zinchenko are said to be among the players who have been injured, while John Stones is expected to return soon after suffering a knock, and Riyad Mahrez is still on international duty with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Assuming that Zack Steffen is not a member of the COVID-affected group, Ederson will prepare to wrestle the gloves back off of him; in addition, Aymeric Laporte will return in the place of Nathan Ake if Stones is forced to withdraw from the match.
Chelsea:
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has no new injury problems to deal with ahead of the top-of-the-table meeting with Manchester City, although Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and AFCON participant Edouard Mendy are all out due to international duty. Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante both came off the bench against Tottenham to return to the starting lineup, although it will be difficult for the latter to dislodge Mateo Kovacic or Jorginho from their starting positions at the Etihad.
Malang Sarr looked comfortable in his left-hand side position in midweek, but he might be replaced by Marcos Alonso today, while Kai Havertz will seek a comeback in the final third ahead of Timo Werner, who has been dropped.
Manchester City vs Chelsea Probable Playing XI:
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Laporte, Joao Cancelo; Gundogan, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne; Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Andre Christensen, Thaigo Silva, Antonio Rudiger; Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso; Mason Mount, Kai Havertz; Romelu Lukaku
Manchester City vs Chelsea Betting Predictions:
Match Betting: Manchester City win (1.70)
Draw (3.80)
Chelsea win (5.00)
The One-Liner Explainer:
If Man City is unable to recover any of its nameless players from the COVID-19 virus, still Guardiola’s team will be rejuvenated and a force to be reckoned with at the Etihad Stadium. They will need no further motivation to all but kill Chelsea’s championship ambitions. Chelsea should be heartened by their two professional displays against Tottenham, but facing Man City away is a very another kettle of fish, and we anticipate weariness to work against them as the champions increase their advantage at the top of the Premier League table.
