Man City vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It feels like Man City have had a terrible season and Chelsea an excellent one - and by some measures that is true - but in reality there are only two points separating them in the Premier League table heading into this clash at the Etihad.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 25th January, 2025: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Peacock
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Premier League on Peacock
Man City Team News: Marmoush to feature?
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that all three of City's January signings so far - Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush - will be in the squad. Marmoush, the second highest scorer in the German Bundesliga this season, could even start in one of the wide roles, especially as Jeremy Doku has been ruled out of this fixture.
Ruben Dias picked up an injury midweek and will not participate, while Oscar Bobb is closing in on a return to the squad.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland
Unavailable: Dias (Injured), Ake (Injured), Rodri (Injured), Doku (Injured)
Questionable: Bobb (Fitness)
Chelsea Team News: Maresca hopeful on Colwill & Fernandez
Enzo Maresca was fairly confident that Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez would be fit to face City, but they will need to be assessed ahead of kick-off.
Romeo Lavia will be out for a few more weeks, but Cole Palmer is feeling a lot better after playing through the pain barrier on Monday.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Unavailable: Badiashile (Injured), Fofana (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Mudryk (Disciplinary), Kellyman (Injured)
Questionable: Colwill (Injured), Fernandez (Injured)
Man City vs Chelsea Prediction
Just when you think Man City might have turned a corner, their frailties rear their head again, and nowhere was that more apparent than their collapse against Paris Saint-Germain in Tuesday's Champions League contest. Two goals to the good in Paris, City collapsed and conceded four to lose the game and ultimately leave their knockout stage hopes hanging by a thread.
There have at least been some improvements in the Premier League - albeit against weaker opposition - with their most recent outing seeing them hit Ipswich for six.
Chelsea had been going through something of a sticky patch themselves lately, but a 3-1 win against Wolves on Monday signalled their first Premier League victory in six games, and they head into this fixture two points ahead of their opponents in the table.
While Man City have started scoring goals regularly again, they still look incredibly fragile at the back regardless of the personnel that Pep Guardiola is choosing for his rearguard. Chelsea, meanwhile, have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine league games, so goals can be expected at the Etihad.
Man City vs Chelsea Tip: Over 2.5 goals
