Here we go. The biggest Premier League match of the season with so much on the line. Everyone’s predicting a cagey 1-0 match. Pellegrini and Mourinho may have a different scoreline in mind.
For viewers in the United States, the match will be shown live on NBCSN at 3pm ET.
The starting line-ups are in:
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Nastasic, Kolarov, Navas, Demichelis, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Negredo
Subs: Pantilimon, Boyata, Clichy, Milner, Rodwell, Lopes, Jovetic
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; David Luiz, Matic; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Eto’o
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Oscar, Salah, Ba
Team news: Torres is out due to an injury. Demichelis appears to be replacing Fernandinho in the midfield today.
Here’s Matt Jones’s preview of today’s pivotal match:
After another scintillating performance in midweek, Manchester City have given themselves a wonderful chance to cruise off into the distance at the top of the Premier League table. Tottenham were battered for the second time this season by Manuel Pellegrini’s team, and they show no signs of slowing down as we edge ever closer to the business end of the Premier League campaign.
City have a perfect home record and it’s difficult to see any team going to the Etihad and preventing a rout, never mind nicking a positive result. But if anyone can eek a draw or a narrow win out, it might be Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea team.
A wholly frustrating 0-0 draw against West Ham put a holt to their momentum in midweek, but Chelsea are a team who always seem to excel in what you’d call the “big” games. Their manager will have them well prepared for the task of facing City, and if they can somehow fashion a victory on the road, then it’d thrust them right back into the title reckoning.
A City win and it’s looking increasingly like they are going to be very, very difficult to halt on their way to Premier League glory.
Before, during or after today’s match, join the conversation in the comments section below with fellow soccer fans from around the world.
