Prediction: Draw
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Manchester City will be aiming to extend Liverpool s wait for the Premier League title as they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Thursday evening.
In what is arguably one of the biggest clashes in the division since the restart, Frank Lampard s Blues will also be trying their upmost to make sure of their position in the top four and next season s Champions League.
Chelsea
It could potentially have been a tricky return to action for the Londoners at the weekend as they took on relegation candidates Aston Villa. Despite falling behind to Kourtney Hause s first-half strike, the Blues put in a dominant showing, with goals from Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud claiming the three points. That victory now means Chelsea have won back-to-back Premier League matches, the first time they have managed to do that since early November. With Leicester City only taking a point from their clash with Brighton Hove Albion on Tuesday, the Blues now have the opportunity to cut the gap to third place to just a solitary point. Despite also now having the chance to make it three consecutive wins in league on home soil, it could well be tough to see them claiming a win considering the play Manchester City. The Blues have only managed to claim one win against the traditional big six at Stamford Bridge, with that success coming against stuttering Tottenham Hotspur.
Team News
Despite Timo Werner s arrival having been confirmed last week, the German striker is not set to play for the Blues until next campaign so won t be eligible to play. Elsewhere, Christian Pulisic came off the bench to net against Villa so could be drafted in from the start this time out. He could be joined by Willian and Pedro, who have both agreed to remain in West London for the remainder of the campaign. Regarding injuries, defender Fikayo Tomori is edging close to a return but won t quite be ready for Thursday s match. Callum Hudson-Odoi remains ruled out with an ankle injury.
Manchester City
It s fair to say that it s been an excellent return to action for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team. The Citizens kicked off with a 3-0 success against floundering Arsenal, before thumping Burnley 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Surprisingly, they now head into the match with Chelsea with the opportunity to notch three consecutive Premier League wins for just the third time this season. That aspect alone could explain why they have fallen so far behind Liverpool this season. Another reason could potentially be their comparatively poor form on the road. Guardiola s troops have lost five matches on foreign soil alone this season, which accounts for over 70% of their league defeats throughout the season. As a matter of fact, they have also lost two out of their last three away Premier League games to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Team News
The Citizens took a huge blow in their recent win over Burnley, with Sergio Aguero limping off having won a penalty. The Argentine forward now looks likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season. Centre-back Eric Garcia, who suffered what looked a serious head injury in the win against Arsenal, is not ready for this game but should return soon. Phil Foden and John Stones are set to be subject to late fitness tests, whilst Claudio Bravo is restricted to the sidelines.
Key Facts To Consider
Chelsea have the better all-time head-to-head-record between the two sides (W67, D39, L67)
Manchester City have won seven out of the last eight matches between the two teams
Sergio Aguero had scored 15 goals in 20 games against Chelsea throughout his career
There has not been a draw between the two sides in the Premier League since January 2015
Manchester City lost the last time they travelled to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League
Conclusion
Considering their motivation to secure a place in the top-four, this game could be crucial to Chelsea. The Blues form against the big six at home though is not great which could play against them. Having said that, the Citizens poor record away from the Etihad Stadium this season will give the hosts confidence as they attempt to notch a win. It will be close between the two so a first draw in over five years could be the best bet.
Prediction: Draw
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