Chelsea v Manchester City - KO 8PM : SSHD1

MagicMarker

If Chelsea have any hope of firing themselves back into the title race, they really need to end Manchester City's unbeaten start to the season on Monday.

The Blues find themselves 10 points off the pace and out of the Premier League's top four following the weekend action.

They need only a point to return to the UEFA Champions League places, but they are about to face their most daunting test of the campaign so far.

Andre Villas-Boas' side have been infuriatingly inconsistent at times, but three wins in their last four in the league and qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League suggest they may have turned the corner.

They have, however, already come unstuck against fellow title hopefuls Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool this term - with two of those defeats coming on home soil.

Chelsea must avoid suffering a similar fate in their latest outing, with it imperative that they take something from a crunch clash.

A run that has seen them net in their last 14 games at Stamford Bridge, scoring more than once in 10 of their last 11, bodes well, but the clean sheet they picked up against Wolves in their last home date was their first shut-out in eight.

Manchester City will arrive in the capital boasting enviable attacking options and will fancy their chances of breaching the Blues' back four.

The league leaders have seen Sergio Aguero score 11 times in 13 top-flight outings this term, while Mario Balotelli has seven goals in his last nine.

Unsurprisingly, such firepower has seen City make the best-ever start to a Premier League season - with 38 points taken from a possible 42.

They are unbeaten in their last eight away games, winning six, but will be aware that their record at Stamford Bridge is not the best.

The Blues have failed to score in eight of their last nine visits to West London and have won just twice on Chelsea turf during the Premier League era.

Team news

Chelsea will be without the suspended David Luiz for the crucial top-of-the-table clash.

Defender Luiz picked up his fifth domestic yellow card of the season in Saturday's 3-0 win at Newcastle and serves a one-match ban.

Right-back Jose Bosingwa has therefore made a timely recovery from the adductor strain that caused him to miss Tuesday's Champions League success against Valencia.

Josh McEachran is back in training after an ankle knock, while fellow midfielder Michael Essien is expected to return from knee surgery early next year.

Micah Richards looks set to miss Manchester City's trip to the capital.

Richards was ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League win over Bayern Munich with a calf injury and may not shake off the problem in time.

Central defender Stefan Savic played in his position in midweek, but Pablo Zabaleta is now fit and could slot back in.

Left-back Aleksandar Kolarov remains sidelined with a groin injury.

Possible starting XIs

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Romeu, Ramires, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Barry, Y Toure, Aguero, Dzeko, Silva.

G'wan Chelsea!!!! :P

Crazy Horse 6

Hoping for a Chelsea win here but i'd say City have a bit to much up front for the leaky Chelsea defence to handle. 1-3 to City imo.

The_Kew_Tour

going to go 2-1 Chelsea.

Just a feeling Chelsea will win this one for some reason.

richierichballs

Important and tough game for us (City,)
I have a feeling it could be a draw. Chelsea looked good against Valencia,
But a win is crucial.

RichT

My predictions this season have been totally wide of the mark.

On that note I predict a 0-0 borefest.

richierichballs

RichT wrote: »

My predictions this season have been totally wide of the mark.

On that note I predict a 0-0 borefest.

Not with the amount of goals we're scoring lately, 2-2 draw.

GavRedKing

Chelsea win for me, 2-0 or 2-1.

Also I dont think Lamps will play, reckon it will be Romeu, Meireles, Ramires in there to combat City's mobile midfield.


If we have any hopes of challenging for the title we have to beat a very rampant City side tonight and captailse on Spurs dropping


Also think our trip to Old Trafford wil be harder then this game.*





* Watch City destroy us tonight after that statement. :P

FutureGuy

3-3. A MNF classic. Drogba 2 goals. You heard it here first.

Turtyturd

Can't see past a City win.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Love MNF, can't wait. Also can't see anything other than a City win. 1-3 is my prediction.

dahat

Looking forward to this tonight,cracking way to spend the wife's birthday,fire n MNF,lovely jubbly!!!

Hope Chelsea nick a point for Utd's sake but can't see past a City win....2-0...

ironbluedun

these monday night matches can be strange.......its hard enough to call but i think 1-2 to city..........or a draw, or a narrow chelsea win.......a feck it i cant make up my mind.

Nu-Centz

have a serious feeling chelsea are going to get a win tonight

Nalz

2-1 Chelsea - controversial/sloppy winner late on

JerryHandbag

1-0 Chelsea, a Frank Lampard screamer

Redzer7

A nice munch and a good game of football, makings of a (rare) good Monday night!

MUSEIST

Not sure what to make of this game tbh. Anything could happen. If chelsea defend a little deeper like the last 2 games then they have a great chance IMO but if he reverts back to the high line then I fear Man City could score a few. I think both sides would be happy enough with a draw.

Hank Scorpio

Surprised City are like 3/1 in some places, can't see past them winning

Professional Griefer

Got the early train just so I'd be home to watch this. Hopefully it'll be a cracker.

Come on Chelsea!

willmunny1990

A loss here for Chelsea puts to bed any notion of still being in the title race. A point isn't enough either, TBH even a win for us tonight doesn't put us back in with a shout for the league IMO.

Impossible to predict how we will set up although with Luiz out i don't see him reverting back to the high line, defenders are way to slow. It would be disastrous.

The rest of the team basically picks itself IMO.

Cole, Terry, Ivan, Bosingwa in defence.
Romeu, Ramirez, Meireles in midfield.
Mata, Drogba, Sturridge up front.

AVB has to get it right tonight or i fear we will be turned over.

Blatter

Must be the first time I've rooted for Chelsea in a December league game in nearly 10 years.

Pretty hard to call this one, could go either way. If Chelsea are up for it they could win.

flahavaj

Hoping Chelsea win but they can't defend for sh*te these days and will surely be torn asunder by City's attackers.

meriwether

I hope City smash 'em.

Do Arsenal a favour.

I've already written off next Sunday against City. I don't want Chelsea gaining 6 points on us from the table as is.

Jesus Wept

nuxxx wrote: »

Surprised City are like 3/1 in some places, can't see past them winning

Are you sure on this?

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/chelsea-v-manchester-city/winner

Best price I can see is on betfair which 3.15 or 2.15/1.

Luap

Can see a Chelsea upset here seeing as Luiz is missing.

Pepe LeFrits

Come on City!

richierichballs

Easy work, we got this..

Cmon City!! Cmon City!! Cmon City!!

barone

bore draw

Jax Teller

Getting called El cashico on Twitter

Masked Man

Pepe LeFrits

Coletrickle88 wrote: »

Getting called El cashico on Twitter

haha, it's the Oil Firm Derby!

Jax Teller

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

haha, it's the Oil Firm Derby!

Cash of the Titans

RichT

Chelsea team ........ allegedly

Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, A.Cole, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Twitterland as source

Panthro

RichT wrote: »

Chelsea team ........ allegedly

Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, A.Cole, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Twitterland as source

That's the team I'd be hoping for.

Barr

RichT wrote: »

Chelsea team ........ allegedly

Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, A.Cole, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Twitterland as source

Hope this is true - better off without Lamps and Torres for a game like this.

amacachi

Ray Wilkins

mike65

Line up confirmed.

Balotelli starts with Aguero

colly_06

Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Yaya, Barry, Milner, Silva, Balotelli, Aguero

Barr

RichT wrote: »

Chelsea team ........ allegedly

Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, A.Cole, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Twitterland as source

The only weakness is Boswinga - would have preferred to seen alex in the centre.

MagicMarker

What a great analysis from Neville.

MUSEIST

MagicMarker wrote: »

What a great analysis from Neville.

Really, I thought he was just stating the bleedin obvious.


I find his monotonous voice a real challenge to listen to. 40 more minutes of this:eek:

RichT

MagicMarker wrote: »

What a great analysis from Neville.

It's been said before, but I too was waiting for Neville to fall on his arse in his new 'career'.

He's been good......VERY GOOD!

Redzer7

Anyone got a stream?

http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/97524/1/watch-chelsea-vs-manchester-city.html

try all the links and see which one suits you best, link 2 for me at the moment is pretty good

Mr.Crinklewood

Neville has been excellent.

IamtheWalrus

Anyone got a good Sopcast stream?

Redzer7

Deleted User wrote: »

http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/97524/1/watch-chelsea-vs-manchester-city.html

try all the links and see which one suits you best, link 2 for me at the moment is pretty good

Thanks bud

CR 7

No torres and no luiz, can't see past a chelsea win.

MagicMarker

Park Ji Sung wrote: »

No torres and no luiz, can't see past a chelsea win.

I see what you did there.

homer simpson

Is it just me or was that the most boring / disinteresting build up to a game? No atmosphere being built up at all in the pre match stuff, and Gary Neville doesn't help either, I find him a tad boring to listen too...

Redzer7

If/When Chelsea score they've to celebrate with the manager and backroom staff to show togetherness.