Date: Thursday 25th June 2020
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 20:15 BST
So, the socially
distanced but not really socially distanced part of the season continues, as we
take on Manchester City tonight at Stamford Bridge.
We restarted the
campaign with a win against Villa at the weekend but there was something
uncomfortably familiar about the way it played out. Despite dominating
possession and never looking under any pressure at all for the first 40 minutes,
we still managed to find ourselves a goal down by half-time. Two goals in 2
minutes from Pulisic and Giroud around the hour-mark reflected the game more
accurately but we just didn’t push on to kill the game completely. Maybe a
little harsh in the circumstances but it definitely hasn’t inspired confidence
ahead of tonight’s game.
Manchester City, on
the other hand, have got off to a flier with eight goals in two games since the
restart, beating Arsenal by 3 and Burnley by 5, both without conceding. They’ve
dominated this fixture in the last few seasons as well and as much as Pep has whinged
about fitness, with their strength and the five-sub rule, they could easily
field a fresh XI and still give half of them a rest if they as much as break
into a sweat.
We’ll need every single water break on offer tonight – and some –
because in the form they’re in, there’s no way City will be handing their title
to Liverpool tonight.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going
into today’s game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says, “We have to be realistic and honest, but we have to just get
as many points as we can. We have tough games but we have to just focus on
ourselves. The competition is fierce., I’m not focusing on others, just
ourselves. Every game is an opportunity to see the growth of the team.
Villa it was nice to see the character. Against City of course we want to be at
that level. We want to close the gap and it’s a great opportunity to prove
themselves.”
Manchester
City manager, Pep Guardiola, meanwhile says “We can’t deny that we have one eye on Newcastle. Chelsea and Liverpool are prestigious but
Newcastle is our game. A final. We have one eye. It depends on physical condition, the minutes
they have played. We take a look a little bit at what is going to happen, not
just Chelsea.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Fikayo Tomori is still a
week away, Callum Hudson-Odoi (ankle) is still not considered fit, but Jorginho
is available again after suspension.
For Manchester City, Sergio Aguero
(knee) and Eric Garcia (head) are absent and John Stones is a doubt.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible
line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso; Kante; Jorginho; Barkley;
Pulisic, Giroud; Willian
MANCHESTER CITY (Possible line-up): Ederson; Walker,
Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City (8th December 2018)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: DLWDWW
MANCHESTER CITY: LWWLWW
OTHER STUFF
- Manchester City have won five of the past seven meetings in all competition
- Chelsea have only kept one clean sheet in the last 11 Premier League meetings.
- Chelsea have won three successive games in all competitions.
- Manchester City have won six of their seven most recent matches in all competitions
- Manchester City have lost two of their last four Premier League away games
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home fixtures against the reigning champions.
- Manchester City have won 18 of their past 20 midweek Premier League fixtures
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester City
Premier League Press: Chelsea 2-3 Manchester City
Sportsmole: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester City
