By Habeeb Kuranga
The Ravens NG sports reporter, Habeeb Kuranga, takes you through what to expect at Stamford Bridge tonight.
What a way matchday 19 is going to be wrapped up. As two big sides are going to lock horns later today at Stamford Bridge. One is widely regarded as the King of London, Chelsea, and the other, the ‘noisy neighbour’ in the City of Manchester.
It was not all rosy for both sides in their last matches respectively. Chelsea left the City Ground with just a single point after they played out a one-all draw against the new boys in Nottingham Forest. Manchester City also dropped two vital points when they host Everton at the Etihad on New Year’s Eve.
It has been a rollercoaster season for Chelsea as they are currently languishing in the 10th position on the log. One win in their last 7 EPL matches says it all as they are yet to find their rhythm especially since Graham Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel as the head coach.
Manchester City, on the other hand, has been firing on all cylinders this season. They are second on the log, already in the quarterfinals of the Carabao cup and are in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. With their summer signing, Erling Braut Haaland breaking all sorts of records in English football.
This would be the 54th meeting between Chelsea and Man City in the EPL. With the Blues triumphing on 26 occasions and the Cityzens winning 22. While 5 matches have ended in a draw between them.
Since the 2016/17 season when Pep Guardiola took over as the gaffer of City, no Premier League club has defeated Man City more than Chelsea. The Blues have won 5 games.
The Cityzens are looking to record a fourth successive win against the Blues for the first time in their history. The last time Chelsea recorded a victory against Man City was in the final of UCL in May 2021.
No City manager has recorded three consecutive wins against the Blues at Stamford Bridge. Pep Guardiola could be the first-ever manager to do so if his boys clinch the three points.
Chelsea manager, Graham Potter could be the third manager in the EPL to defeat Pep Guardiola’s Man City with two different clubs, after Jose Mourinho (with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur), and Antonio Conte (with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur).
This fixture is a crucial one for both teams as it could be a turning point for Chelsea FC and potentially be the one to build their momentum and make them finish on a high note come to the end of the season. Man City also need the win to close the gap between them and the table toppers, Arsenal. As they are currently 8 points adrift of the Gunners.
Chelsea’s possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly; Azpilicueta, Zakaria, Kovacic, Cucurella; Mount, Sterling, Pulisic
Manchester City’s possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Stones, Cancelo; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden
