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It’s an early tussle for the Premier League title at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea attempt to draw further distance at the top of the table ahead of Manchester City. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:15am AEDT.
Five points is the gap that Jose Mourinho currently enjoys over the blue rivals up north. While citing a victory in January (February for the Australian fanbase) as testament to future glory is a tad premature, what is without question is how three points for either side will propel their fortunes in the months to come. Yet both will come into this game under their own respective form and selection clouds.
As per his wont, Jose Mourinho believes the world is out to get him and Chelsea, comments that cost him £25,000 – a figure amounting to mere pocket change for these two sides. That was in response to the three-match suspension meted out to star forward Diego Costa after stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can during the Blues’ high-octane League Cup extra time triumph midweek.
Adding to the Portuguese’s worries are the potential absence of midfield talisman Cesc Fabregas, and the continued poor form of defender Gary Cahill. Mourinho is likely to turn to veteran Didier Drogba to lead the line ahead of the attacking troika of Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard, while Ramires should be brought in to partner Nemanja Matic in the centre. The performance of Kurt Zouma midweek should retain his place over Cahill, while Cesar Azpilicueta is mooted to return to the left back position he made his own last season.
For Manchester City, the hope remains that a tired and stretched Chelsea will feel the pinch – even with a five point gap and home advantage. Alas for the reigning champions, this fixture comes at a time they have endured their own miserable form line.
Having enjoyed a superb December to resurrect their domestic and European credentials, they have feebly handed back the Premier League advantage to Chelsea in the last three weeks. If a draw at Everton was not a warning sign, then surely consecutive home losses to Arsenal and second-tier Middlesbrough will gong loud the warning bells for Manuel Pellegrini. He can look to his predecessor Roberto Mancini at how failure at the modern Manchester City is not tolerated – even within 12 months of winning a title.
Manchester City’s issues have stemmed from a lack of goals coupled with increasing suspicion over continued defensive lapses. They can be grateful not to be confronted with Costa, but the combination of Kompany and Demichelis that won them the title last season is ripe for Eden Hazard’s picking.
While in theory a defensive midfield of Fernandinho and Fernando sounds good, it has come at the expense of the continued forward pressing and momentum that Yaya Toure has made his trademark. The Ivorian’s absence has been telling, and most affected the influence of David Silva. Pellegrini’s best option is to opt for the energetic James Milner to partner one of the two Brazilian midfielders, and restore the out-of-favour Edin Dzeko to partner Aguero. Such a move would represent a heavy risk on Pellegrini’s part, yet the need for three points should outstrip any conservative tendency.
Despite being shorn of their best, Chelsea at home should do enough to at least withstand City from claiming all three points. The visitors’ power player may likely once again be Frank Lampard, who robbed his old employers two points when these teams last met in September. The irony of Lampard winning a game at his old home against a manager who would now crave his influence will not be lost on the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Expect fire and brimstone aplenty as the Premier League season gets its first look at what can be billed as a “title decider”.
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