Manchester City vs Chelsea – Predicted lineup and team news

Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium while they aim to regain winning momentum in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side saw their six-match winning run end on Thursday against Sunderland. Consequently, they sit four points behind Arsenal and cannot afford to drop further points. City remain formidable at home, winning eight consecutive league matches. Therefore, the home crowd expects a dominant performance against a Chelsea side currently in turmoil.

Manchester City Team News

Guardiola manages a significantly thinned squad for this high-profile encounter. The manager confirmed that Nico Gonzalez and Savinho picked up knocks during the midweek draw. Consequently, both attackers are unlikely to start against the Blues. They join Oscar Bobb, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic in the treatment room. Furthermore, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are unavailable due to international commitments at AFCON.

However, City receive a boost with the continued return of Rodri and Jeremy Doku. Both players recently recovered from long-term injuries and featured as substitutes on New Year’s Day. Guardiola will likely manage their minutes carefully to avoid any setbacks. In the absence of Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol should lead the backline. Youngster Nico O’Reilly is also poised for another start in the defensive unit. In attack, Erling Haaland will lead the line as he seeks his 20th league goal of the season. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki are expected to provide the creative spark behind him.