Manchester City vs Chelsea
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Monday, February 3, 2014
8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Manchester City host Chelsea this Monday in what would be the biggest of clashes so far in the Premier League this campaign. With just 3 points separating the two, if City manage to pick up all three points, it should give them a huge boost in the title race as they would pull away from Chelsea. A draw would be perfect for Arsenal as they can return to the top of the table having lost points against Southampton last week. Meanwhile if Mourinho’s men manage to do the unthinkable of picking up three points for the first time at the Etihad stadium this season, they can level grounds with the Citizens. Well and truly, a match of the season waiting to be witnessed come Monday.
The teams enter the game on the back of two vastly different results. Chelsea drew at home against a spirited West Ham side while Man City manage to run riot over Tottenham at the White Hart Lane.
Team News:
The biggest news ahead of the clash is certainly about the Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who will miss the game due to a Hamstring injury that he picked up against Spurs last week.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini said, ”We will see how he is after he has seen the doctor on Thursday. He has injured his hamstring. Now we must wait and see how serious it is.”
“We have tried not to depend on one player but we will always miss Sergio because he’s a top player, and we hope to have him again as soon as possible.”
Elsewhere midfielder James Milner might be involved after recovering from his groin problem.
For Chelsea, Fernando Torres will continue being absent while Chelsea’s latest signing Mohamed Salah could fins a place in the bench once again.
It is expected that Mourinho might go for a defensive set-up, with the likes of Luiz, Matic and Ramires included in a three man midfield while Eto’o will continue as a striker in the absence of the Spaniard.
City league form: WWWWW
Chelsea league form: WWWWD
Possible starting line-up
Joe Hart; Aleksandar Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis, PabloZabaleta; David Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas; EdinDzeko, Alvaro Negredo
Cech; Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic; Ramires, Matic, Luiz, Hazard, Willian; Eto’o
Prediction:
It has to be either a tactically worn out match with Chelsea putting bodies behind the ball and settle for a draw or Man City running riot and scoring atleast 3 past Cech. Looking at the form CIty are showing this season, I am going with my second thought. It’s a win for City by 3 goals to 1.