The Premier League returns this weekend, with Chelsea hosting Manchester City in the biggest fixture of game week six of the 2021/21 league season.
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Key Statistics
Thomas Tuchel is yet to lose to Pep Guardiola in the Premier League.
Since the German’s arrival to England, Chelsea have kept 15 PL clean sheets, more than any other side in that same period.
Pep Guardiola has lost to Chelsea more times than he has lost against any other opponent in all competitions(eight times).
He has never lost four consecutive matches against any opponent.
Kevin De Bruyne has found the back of the net in three consecutive Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
Head to Head (H2H)
The last twelve meetings between both sides have featured seven wins for Manchester City. Chelsea had five in that same period, with none of the 12 games ending as a draw.
But overall, Chelsea have the edge in the historical head-to-head record, winning 71 games against Manchester City’s 59 wins.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Chelsea: D-W-W-W-D-W (Goals for 11 Goals against 2)
Manchester City: W-D-W-W-W (Goals for 23 Goals against 4 )
Chelsea
Premier League leaders Chelsea will welcome the current league defending champions to Stamford Bridge this Saturday, hoping to continue their early-season imperious form.
The Blues are top of the pile after five games and are looking like the team this term. They head into this tie unbeaten in nine games and with an enviable clean sheet record.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are equally impressive in front of the goal and have solved the goal-scoring woes which plagued them last season. This season, the hosts have scored at least two goals in all of their league wins.
They possess an array of attacking weapons and are not dependent on just Romelu Lukaku, as they already have ten different goalscorers this season contributing to all their league wins.
They will head into this tie full of confidence after bearing in each of their last three competitive matches, keeping clean sheets in two games.
Possible Chelsea line-ups
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy should start against City after missing Chelsea’s win against Tottenham, leaving Christian Pulisic as the only injury absentee for this tie.
Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Reece James, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Marcos Alonso, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Romelu Lukaku.
Manchester City
Injury ravaged City travel to London to play the of three consecutive away games. Pep Guardiola’s side have a tough run of fixtures coming up in nine days where they play Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool all away from home.
They will hope to begin the run with a win in London but face the arduous task of doing so without a few of their first-teamers.
The Sky Blues have struggled at times this season and could not score in their last PL match against Southampton—the second time they have failed to score in the league this season.
Despite their struggles to score, City defeated Wycombe 6-1 in their last competitive outing, taking their season’s goal tally to 23 goals in all competitions.
A win in this game will take them level on points with Chelsea, while a loss will push them further away from the top of the table.
Possible Manchester City line-ups
Guardiola has several injuries in his team defenders Ayermic Laporte, Zinchenko and John Stones out of this tie. Guardiola also expects midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri to miss this game due to minor knocks.
Ederson Moraes; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker; Fernandinho, Bernado Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Gabriel Jesus, Ferran Torres, Raheem Sterling
Prediction
This game promises to be an entertaining clash, with both sides possessing a lot of quality in their ranks.
Chelsea are the most in-form team at the moment and look like the favourite for a win here. But we cannot rule City out as they can cause a lot of damage to any team on their day.
