Manchester City continue their push for the Premier League title against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
If Liverpool draw or lose at lunchtime, victory would see Man City go top of the table whilst Chelsea can go seventh with a win if results elsewhere swing in their favour.
Team News
Jack Grealish is ruled out for Man City after he suffered a groin injury during their first leg victory at Copenhagen in the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
Bernardo Silva (foot), Mateo Kovacic (knee) and Sergio Gomez (unspecified) are doubts but Josko Gvardiol (ankle) remains absent.
Chelsea will be without Thiago Silva after he suffered a groin injury during their comeback win at Crystal Palace.
Robert Sanchez (knee) could return but Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle) is doubtful for selection.
Benoit Badiashile (groin), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu (both hamstring), Wesley Fofana (ACL) and Romeo Lavia (knock) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Chelsea at Etihad Stadium at 5:30pm GMT on Saturday 17 February, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have lost one of their last seven league meetings against Chelsea (W5, D1, L1)
- Chelsea have won one of their last six league visits to Man City (W1, L5).
- Man City have won four of their last five league clashes against Chelsea by 1-0 results, except for a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
- Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens have scored first in their last four league games at home (W3, D1).
- Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight away matches (W4, L4).
Prediction
Come kick-off, Man City could have a huge opportunity to go top with a win but if they’re as wasteful as they were in Copenhagen in midweek despite claiming a 3-1 aggregate lead, I do feel that they will have another tough task on their hands if not cleaner in their end product.
Chelsea meanwhile were a team of two halves at Palace because they allowed Palace to take the game to them in the first half and lead, yet they somehow showed what they’re capable of with a stronger second half in terms of intensity and end product.
It is therefore tough to predict which Chelsea to expect as is now commonplace but if City are at their robust best, I can see them taking the win but this won’t be as much of a corker as their clash in West London.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
Result: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea
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