Chelsea FC heads to Manchester City in what is hands down the blockbuster fixture of the Premier League weekend. The Blues handed City their first loss of the season in the reverse fixture, back in December, so Pep Guardiola’s side will be very focused and fired up for this one. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides starting with the hosts.
Back-up goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and team captain Vincent Kompany remain long-term injury absentees. The latter has yet to recover from the muscle injury that he picked up in the win over Liverpool at the beginning of 2019 that thrust City back into the league title race.
Benjamin Mendy is a doubt, as he continues to struggle with an ongoing knee issue. Having undergone knee surgery in November, he finally made his comeback in the recent win at Burton Albion in the League Cup, but it’s been an up and down recovery/rehabilitation process and his status for featuring in this one is questionable.
Maurizio Sarri said this morning that there are only a few little problems with his squad. Callum Hudson-Odoi was dealing with a short fever and Gary Cahill had an issue with his back. The Italian said he hopes to have all of his players available for this clash.
Given that he has a fully fit squad to choose from, one could expect Sarri to do at least a little bit of squad rotation with his first team on Sunday.
Manchester City vs Chelsea FC FYIs
Kick-off: Sunday February 10, City of Manchester Stadium, 4pm (BST), 11am (EST)
Form Guide:
Chelsea FC W L W W L W L Manchester City W W L W W W W
Odds via Bet365: Manchester City 4/9, Draw 7/2, Chelsea FC 11/2
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 64%, Draw 21%, Chelsea FC win 15%
Starting XI Predictions: Manchester City Chelsea FC
Prediction: Manchester City 3, Chelsea FC 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.