Chelsea’s visit to Manchester City will be a homecoming for members of the travelling party. Five Chelsea players were nurtured at the academy that sits a few hundred yards from the Etihad Stadium, on the other side of a bridge.
The London club’s recent recruitment has been heavily influenced by City’s teaching of players and coaches. Tosin Adarabioyo, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Roméo Lavia were members of City’s youth ranks, most working there under Enzo Maresca. If one thread was unpicked this week when Maresca dramatically departed Chelsea, the link remains strong because Sunday’s caretaker, Calum McFarlane, was formerly the under-18s assistant manager at City.
Josko Gvardiol, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders return to the City side in place of Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez and Savinho.
Five changes for Chelsea. Filip Jorgensen, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro come in for Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap. Caicedo’s absence through suspension is a big blow to Chelsea.
Man City (possible 4-1-4-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri; Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Reijnders, Foden; Haaland.
Subs: Trafford, Ake, Doku, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, R Heskey.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Jorgensen; Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; James, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Pedro Neto; Joao Pedro.
Subs: Garnacho, Guiu, Hato, Santos, Bynoe-Gittens, Delap, Adarabioyo, Merrick, Slonina.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester City v Chelsea at the Etihad. It’s not a must-win game for City, because this is January and there are still over 50 points to play for in the Premier League season, but it’s not far off.
Arsenal’s victory at Bournemouth last night moved them seven points clear of City, who have today’s game in hand. City have been a bit fragile in away games, so their home form is even more important than usual.
Chelsea are dangerous opponents, even when they are in disarray after starting the new year by breaking up with the manager who made them world champions a few months ago. In the circumstances, this game is a bit of a free hit. For City, it’s anything but.
Kick off 5.30pm.