Manchester City will look to bounce back from their New Year’s Day stalemate away at Sunderland as they welcome managerless Chelsea to the Etihad at teatime Sunday.
Manchester City failed to move back within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday night, as they played out a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light against newly-promoted Sunderland.
That draw also put a halt to their six-game winning run in the Premier League, but Pep Guardiola will take confidence from the fact his side have won each of their previous eight league encounters at the Etihad, firing in an impressive 25 goals in the process.
Perhaps the biggest news on New Year’s Day came off the pitch, as Chelsea decided to part ways with head coach Enzo Maresca after just 18 months in charge.
Whilst there looked to be plenty of tension off the pitch between the Italian and the Chelsea hierarchy, the Blues’ recent form on the pitch has been poor.
The reigning Conference League and Club World Cup champions have won just one of their previous seven Premier League fixtures (W1-D4-L2) following their 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday, seeing them fall down to fifth position in the Premier League, 11 points behind their second-placed hosts.
How the bookies view it: City favourites
Manchester City are favourites to bounce back from their midweek draw and record a ninth consecutive Premier League victory at the Etihad, with bet365 pricing a home success at 13/20.
Chelsea are 7/2 (bet365) to begin life after Enzo Maresca with all three points, whilst the draw is also 7/2 at bet365.
Head to head: City revenge
After defeating Manchester City in the Champions League final in 2021, Chelsea have failed to win any of their next 11 meetings against Pep Guardiola’s men, losing nine of them (W0-D2-L9), including a 3-1 loss on their last visit to the Etihad at the turn of the year.
Players to watch: Haaland to haunt Blues again?
Erling Haaland drew a rare blank at the Stadium of Light on Thursday night, but the big Norwegian striker still has an extraordinary 19 goals across his opening 19 appearances in the Premier League this season.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker has also scored in three of his previous four appearances against the Blues, and the 21/20 on offer at bet365 for him to score alongside a home win holds plenty of appeal to me.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Manchester City will be without the injured Oscar Bobb, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez and Savinho, whilst Rayan Ait Nouri and Omar Marmoush are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Chelsea are still without Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia, whilst influential midfielder Moises Caicedo is suspended and Marc Cucurella is a doubt.
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Cherki, Haaland
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, James, Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Pedro
Anything else catch the eye?
Manchester City’s six-game winless run was ended in midweek following their goalless draw away at Sunderland, but I fully expect them to return to winning ways against their managerless opponents on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s hosts have won each of their previous eight Premier League clashes at the Etihad, and have a strong recent record against the Blues.
Manchester City have fired an impressive 25 goals across those eight straight victories in front of their supporters – scoring at least twice in them – and the 4/5 on offer at bet365 for a Manchester City Win & Over 1.5 Goals appeals to me.
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