Likely XI: Manchester City’s lineup To Face Chelsea

A free scoring and imperious looking Manchester City side host third placed Chelsea at the Etihad on Monday in what promises to be an absolute blockbuster of a clash. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have won nineteen and lost just one of their last twenty one League games at home, which includes winning the last eleven in a row. To add to this City have hit the back of the net an astonishing 35 times in their last nine games, which rakes up to an immaculate record of four goals per game.

The Citizens now face a Chelsea side who have been simply sublime in the new year before hitting a roadblock in their goalless draw against West Ham last game week. If I were to say from a neutral perspective, Manchester City look title winners for me but can Chelsea stop the City juggernaut or be pelted the ignominy of disdain. If City are to teach another team a football lesson at home, how would they shape up? So here we present Pellegrini’s strongest line up against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Goalkeeping:

Joe Hart will start in goal for the home outfit as the English International braces to face a side who had all of their 39 shots on goal blocked by West Ham in midweek at Stamford Bridge. However Chelsea have the attacking prowess to unlock any defence on their day and once again their attack will carry weight of finding the back of the net, which Hart needs to be wary of.

Defence:

Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksander Kolarov will start in either wing back slots as both of them will be looking barge up front on every occasion and put pressure on Chelsea’s wingers not allowing any inch of space and making the field narrow and difficult for Chelsea to break. Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic (whose mistake allowed Chelsea to seal a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season) should start as the centre back pairing for the Citizens as they have to deal with Chelsea’s triumvirate of Oscar, Hazard and Willian just behind the main striker. City hardly concede goals at home and once again will look to shut Chelsea down to bag full points and stomp their authority at the top of the table.

Midfield:

City’s biggest advantage and the main reason for their imperious run of form has been their personnel in the middle of the park thanks to Yaya Toure and Fernandinho. The Ivorian – Brazilian partnership is the engine of their team and can score goals too and drive their team forward whenever needed. They will look to sit on top of the London side’s midfield and with all their vision, power and amazing ability to keep running throughout the entire course of ninety minutes might just be the deciding factor. David Silva should start on the left flank and look to dart inside while his fellow International team mate Jesus Navas will play wide on the right and make the pitch as wide as possible.

Strikeforce:

Having lost Sergio Aguero for a month with a hamstring injury, it’s upto Negredo and Dzeko to lead the City attack. Alvaro Negredo has scored 16 goals in his last 13 competitive appearances at the Etihad and will again lead the frontline with Edin Dzeko by his side. The Bosnian will attempt to score in four successive Premier League appearances within the same season for the first time as City will again teach one of the top teams in the League a lesson.