The Londoners ran out 2-0 winners at Stamford Bridge to leave Man City playing catch-up to Liverpool over the past two months, and subsequent defeats to Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Newcastle United in the meantime at one stage appeared to have seriously derailed their title defence.Despite leading the way, Man City still find themselves in a position of catch-up, though, with only goal difference placing them above Jurgen Klopp’s side and Liverpool boasting the distinct advantage of a game in hand – to be played while Man City are facing Chelsea once again in the EFL Cup final.
The champions will be wary of Chelsea having suffered their first defeat of the season at their hands in December, but they also have home advantage behind them this time around and boast the best home record in the division this term with 12 wins from 13 games.
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Head To Head
No team has beaten Man City more often than Chelsea in the Premier League era, with the London outfit recording 25 victories over Sunday’s hosts.Chelsea are also the only club to win more than two top-flight fixtures against a team managed by Guardiola, having chalked up their third with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in December.
Man City had won three in a row before that, though, including a 2-0 victory of their own when these two sides met in the 2018-19 curtain-raiser at Wembley as the league champions beat the FA Cup holders to the Community Shield.
Man City lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Laporte; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, D Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane
Chelsea lineup:
Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Willian, Higuain, Hazard
