This weekend’s big Super Sunday clash sees Manchester City meet Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
With Liverpool now back top after thrashing Bournemouth, this is a must win for the Citizens if they’re to move back into the lead.
As for Chelsea, a point will be enough to return them to fourth but a win will provide a boost heading into a hectic run of games.
Team news
Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s game as Benjamin Mendy and Vincent Kompany remain sidelined.
Mendy is still slowly returning to full fitness after a knee injury whilst Kompany remains out with a muscular injury.
Claudio Bravo is still ruled out for rest of season with an Achilles injury.
Chelsea could have youngster, Callum Hudson-Odoi available after illness.
Emerson Palmieri (knock) and Gary Cahill (back) are also in contention after making recoveries.
Form
Manchester City enter this unbeaten in 10 of last 11 matches across all competitions and have scored in 14 straight games since losing at Chelsea in early December.
At home, City have taken six straight wins in both league and cups since suffering a 3-2 defeat against Crystal Palace just before Xmas, keeping four clean sheets in that run.
Chelsea meanwhile have taken just seven points from their last five league games but dispatched Huddersfield 5-0 last weekend at home.
Away from Stamford Bridge, the Blues have lost their last three in all competitions by a 7-0 aggregate.
Stat Attack
- Manchester City have lost three of their last five league meetings with Chelsea (W2, L3).
- Sergio Aguero has scored three goals across his last three appearances for Man City against Chelsea.
- As manager, Pep Guardiola has taken two draws plus a win and loss apiece against Chelsea when the Blues were the visitors.
- Eden Hazard has made a league high of 10 assists for Chelsea this season but five Man City players have made more assists than the Blues’ next best assistant – Ross Barkley who had made four assists.
- Both teams have kept 11 clean sheets with all of those clean sheets coming from their first choice keepers, Ederson and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Prediction
Chelsea need to be at their absolute best here against City otherwise this could very well be another away thrashing akin to that of the defeat at Bournemouth just over a week ago.
A hectic week in which Guardiola’s side faced Arsenal then Everton should temper those thoughts slightly but in the end, the Citizens should edge this.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
Jake predicts: Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea
Result: Manchester City 6-0 Chelsea