Premier League | Gameweek 23

Jan 25, 2025 at 5.30pm UK

Etihad Stadium

Man City vs Chelsea

Match preview

Just when it looked like Man City were turning a corner, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four during a six-match unbeaten run, Pep Guardiola's side were knocked back down to earth with a disappointing 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Despite taking a two-goal lead early in the second half, the Citizens capitulated - not for the first time this season - conceding three goals in 22 minutes before Goncalo Ramos added a fourth for PSG in stoppage time to leave Man City deflated and in serious danger of failing to qualify for the knockout stages.

Sitting 25th in the Champions League standings and needing a win in their final game against Club Brugge next week to secure a play-off place in the last 16, Man City have now failed to win nine games in all competitions in which they were leading - the most of any Premier League club this season.

Guardiola will need to dust themselves off quickly as they prepare for a challenging run of Premier League fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest - a run that could define their season as they chase a top-four finish.

Man City have lost each of their last three Premier League games played immediately after a midweek European fixture, but are unbeaten in their last seven top-flight meetings with Chelsea (W5 D2).

After a dip in form at the turn of the year (D2 L2), Chelsea have won two and drawn one of their last three games in all competitions, taking four points from their last two Premier League home games against Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The west Londoners salvaged a point from a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth before beating Wolves 3-1 on Monday. Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke helped Chelsea end a five-match winless run in the Premier League and seal their 11th top-flight success of the season.

Although he felt that Chelsea "could have scored more" against Wolves, head coach Enzo Maresca was pleased to see his side move back into the top four, two points clear of Saturday's opponents Man City in fifth, against whom they have struggled in recent years.

Indeed, Chelsea have failed to win any of their last 10 meetings with the Citizens in all competitions (D2 L8) since beating Guardiola's side 1-0 in the 2021 Champions League final, three weeks after beating Man City 2-1 in the Premier League at the Etihad.

Chelsea have actually taken more points away from home this season (21) than at Stamford Bridge (19), but they head to the Etihad this weekend without a win in their last three away games (D2 L1), while they have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 PL away games against Man City, failing to score on seven occasions in that run.

Recent Performance

Manchester City Premier League form:LDWWDW

Manchester City form (all competitions):WWWDWL

Chelsea Premier League form:DLLDDW

Chelsea form (all competitions):LLDWDW

Team News

Man City are concerned about the fitness of Ruben Dias, who asked to be substituted at half-time against PSG, and the defender is a doubt along with Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku (both unspecified) and Oscar Bobb, while Rodri (ACL) remains sidelined and Kyle Walker is set to join AC Milan.

The Citizens have added three new faces to their squad this week - Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis - and all are in contention to make their debuts on Saturday, although it remains to be seen whether Guardiola will be tempted to start any of the trio.

Jack Grealish will be pushing for a start after coming on as a substitute for both of City's goals in midweek, but Guardiola is likely to stick with Savinho on the left flank, while Kevin De Bruyne - who has scored five Premier League goals against former club Chelsea - could operate behind centre-back Erling Haaland.

For Chelsea, Romeo Lavia (muscle), Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) remain unavailable, while Levi Colwill (undisclosed) and Enzo Fernandez (muscle) are both doubtful and will be assessed before kick-off.

Although Robert Sanchez has been directly responsible for four errors that have led to goals this season, including the last against Wolves, Maresca defended his first-choice goalkeeper on Monday and could stick with him again on Saturday. Filip Jorgensen is in the wings, however, should he be required.

It remains to be seen whether Reece James will be fit enough to start back-to-back Premier League games, so Malo Gusto could be recalled at right-back, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could retain his starting spot in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo if Fernandez is deemed unfit.

Former City winger Jadon Sancho will be pushing for a start ahead of either Madueke or Pedro Neto, while star playmaker Cole Palmer - another former City man - will continue in a central role behind striker Nicolas Jackson.

Possible starting lineup

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson