The league leaders Chelsea welcome the defending champions Manchester City to Stamford Bridge this weekend for a much-anticipated clash between two evenly-matched sides.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues have been a delight to watch this new season on all fronts with 13 points pocketed out of their five outings so far in Premier League football.
A majestic run of four straight wins across all competitions for Chelsea gives them a major boost of confidence heading into Saturday’s matchup against Manchester City who have not been enjoying the early start to the season they had hoped for.
Chelsea, meanwhile, look solid on both the defensive and attacking front with Tuchel’s acquisitions in the summer window reaping rewards for the Blues boss who will hope for his players to live up to the hype surrounding their performances when playing hosts to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on their own patch.
The west Londoners last turned out in the third-round fixture list of the Carabao Cup this Wednesday against Aston Villa in a game that was decided through a penalty shootout which eventually went Chelsea’s way.
Tuchel fielded a much-changed starting XI with many of the regular names on the teamsheet getting some well-earned rest while a number of fringe players were given a chance to showcase their worth of a role in the first-team camp at Stamford Bridge.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date – 25 September
Time – 2 PM GMT
Venue – Stamford Bridge
TEAM NEWS
The major worrying point on the injury front for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel will be the race Edouard Mendy faces against time in order to prove his fitness levels ahead of the Saturday showdown against Manchester City.
Mendy was sidelined for the cup clash on Wednesday with Kepa providing cover for the Senelelse in goal and should Mendy be deemed unavailable for the weekend fixture, Kepa will once again deputise for the first-choice Chelsea shot-stopper.
A number of regulars including star striker Romelu Lukaku and the high-flying Marcos Alonso will be in line to make the starting teamsheet after being rested for the midweek game in the Carabao Cup.
KEY BATTLE
Antonio Rudiger vs Ruben Dias
Rudiger has been one of the most influential names for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel and despite the speculation surrounding his future at the club beyond next summer, he remains pivotal to the defence for the Blues especially when coming up against an in-form Manchester City forward line.
For the visitors to Stamford Bridge, it is their own defensive colossus Ruben Dias who has been a real asset at the back since his move to the club last summer from Benfica.
PREDICTION
Up the Chels! 👌 pic.twitter.com/a4pbxKgP94
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 22, 2021
Chelsea are the favourites heading into the upcoming contest purely because of the form that Tuchel’s men have recorded in recent times.
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
