Chelsea vs Manchester City: Preview, Team News, Probable Lineups and Prediction

Manchester City will travel to Stamford Bridge to face the reigning Premier League champions Chelsea this weekend. Vengeance will be on the minds of the Citizens after the Blues got the better of them in both their meetings last season.

Pep's City, the juggernaut that they have become, haven't lost in any of their 14 previous league matches and have racked up a staggering 16 goals in their last three league games.

Chelsea, on the other hand, seem to have shed all the baggage from an opening weekend debacle against Burnley and will look at the fixture as an opportunity to lay down the marker for a title challenge this season.

Chelsea vs Manchester City: Kickoff information

Date: 30 September

Kickoff: 5:30 PM (local time), 10:00 PM (IST)

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Chelsea vs Manchester City: Team News

Chelsea: The stage is all set for Chelsea's main man Eden Hazard to make his first start of the 2017/18 campaign. David Luiz is available for selection again after being red-carded and asked to go in for an early shower following a reckless challenge on Kolasinac in the game against Arsenal. Danny Drinkwater remains unavailable after sustaining a calf injury.

Manchester City: In what was tragic news, Sergio Aguero was involved in a car crash in Amsterdam and will be out owing to a rib injury. Benjamin Mendy had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and he, too, will be out for quite a while. Vincent Kompany remains sidelined with a calf injury.

Chelsea vs Manchester City: Probable Lineups

Chelsea: (3-4-2-1): Thibaut Courtois (GK); Antonio Rudiger, Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta; Victor Moses, N'Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Marcos Alonso; Eden Hazard, Pedro; Alvaro Morata

Manchester City: (4-3-3): Ederson (GK); Kyle Walker, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Danilo; Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva; Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus

Chelsea vs Manchester City: Form guide

Last 5 matches in all competitions

Chelsea: W-D-W-W-W

Manchester City: W-W-W-W-W

Chelsea vs Manchester City: Head-to-Head

Manchester City wins: 52

Chelsea wins: 66

Draws: 39

Chelsea vs Manchester City: Key Players

Chelsea: Alvaro Morata's clinical nature in front of goal and his good run of form will be crucial to Chelsea's chances at Stamford Bridge. With Eden Hazard likely to start behind him, Morata will in, all probability, be getting top quality service and City will need to be wary of the Spaniard's aerial ability.

Alvaro Morata is in top form

Manchester City: David Silva continues to be the most vital cog in City's attacking system and has so far laid out 6 assists this season. Alongside the equally menacing Kevin De Bruyne, Silva will be constantly probing around Chelsea's defensive line looking for spaces and weaknesses to exploit.

Prediction

City will miss Aguero up front and both team's defences will be put to test. Ultimately, we predict a low-scoring affair that doesn't go either way.

Predicted score: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City