EPL Game Of The Week Preview: Chelsea V Manchester City

This week’s Game Of The Week wasn’t hard to pick with a mouthwatering top of the table clash between Chelsea and Manchester City.

CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER CITY – SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER, 5:30 PM, STAMFORD BRIDGE

The big games just keep coming and Chelsea are next in line as they try to hand Manchester City their first Premier League defeat of the season.

After 15 games, the defending champions have won 13 and drawn twice so far and after being shocked by Wolverhampton on Wednesday, Chelsea will be hard-pressed to bounce back when the all-conquering Manchester City visits Stamford Bridge on Saturday night. These sides have already met once this season, with City emerging victorious 2-0 in the Community Shield thanks to a Sergio Aguero double. Although Aguero remains in doubt due to a muscle injury, a similar result is on the cards at Stamford Bridge given the visiting Sky Blues also kept Chelsea scoreless across their two Premier League meetings last season, both of which resulted in 1-0 victories.

Furthermore, the Blues’ 2-1 loss at Wolves continued a string of poor results which has seen them win just once from four league outings. Meanwhile, City has been going from strength-to-strength despite dealing with some injury issues and is now on a seven-match winning streak in the EPL after overcoming a valiant Watford side 2-1 at Vicarage Road midweek.

INSIGHTS

• The ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in 10 of Chelsea’s last 11 EPL night matches as an underdog.
• Manchester City has kept a clean sheet in four of its last five EPL away matches.
• Manchester City has won three of its last four EPL matches as a favourite against Chelsea to nil.
• Leroy Sane has scored three goals in Manchester City’s last two EPL away matches.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Man City have a chance to secure a second successive top-flight victory at Chelsea for the first time since January 1955.
• City also have an opportunity to beat Chelsea for the fourth time in a row in all competitions, something they have never done before. This is the 161st meeting between the teams.
• Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their last 14 PL away matches. City have never gone 15 without defeat on the road in the top flight.
• Leroy Sane has contributed a goal or assist in his last eight PL starts this season, striking six times and assisting a further five goals.

Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Andre Marriner

ODDS

TIP: Manchester City