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”.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City Chelsea maintain their five point lead at the top, even while surrendering their perfect home record. They did what was required, and not give away their title advantage. City were the better team on balance, but lacked the edge to penetrate and test the Chelsea defence with regularity. The two goals at the end of the first half were the only notable action. We'll be back next week with more Premier League action, as I bring you the Merseyside Derby next Sunday morning at Goodison Park. Join me then. At fulltime at Stamford Bridge, it finished Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+4: Corner for City, if it'll be allowed. This will be the last play. Delivered short, and Courtois gathers the eventual cross. That's it! FULLTIME: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+2: Final change for Chelsea, and what a moment for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who makes his Blues league debut. He replaces Oscar, and is charged to see out the final 90 seconds. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+1: Corner for City. Possibly the last chance. Navas to deliver. It's a poor corner and bounces to the near post and cleared. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90: Chelsea will not break down at this pressure. We are entering stoppage time now. Three minutes of it. What late drama do we have in store? Milner's cross headed away by Zouma. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: On balance, City would deserve to win this. They have been the more willing. But Mourinho's knows the value of stopping City now as opposed to working for all three. Final change for City. Silva off, Jovetic on. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'88: CLOSE FROM MILNER! It was a shot/cross that either could have been angled enough to go into the corner of the net, or it was a perfect set up for a teammate to tap in! In the end, neither happened! At the other end, Drogba is offside to Ramires' pass forward. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: Off is the striker Loic Remy. On is the central defender Gary Cahill. Does this mean a back three, with Azpilicueta and Ivanovic pushing up? Or are we having a square back five? 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'85: City working, probing around the Chelsea half to find any semblance of an opening. Clichy with a cross that is headed out for a City throw. Chelsea about to bring on Gary Cahill - a defender. Interesting move. Indication Mourinho's happy to share the points? 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Second change for City is the removal of one striker for another. Aguero off, Dzeko on. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'82: First touch for Drogba earns a free kick from Demichelis's ill-timed foot. Oscar to deliver, which is headed out. Chelsea keep possession around the City box. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'80: Willian now with an issue, as Drogba is ready to come on. Looks like it will be in place of Willian, who played all 120 minutes midweek against Liverpool. He hobbles out of play to enable the substitution. Two substitutes = two Chelsea legends. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'78: Ramires with a long ball aimed to find Remy, who again ran too early. Lampard gets his first touch prior to that. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Here is the change. Lampard runs onto Stamford Bridge to rousing applause. Off is Fernando. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Big moment now as Frank Lampard gets ready to come on. Likely in the next break of play. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'74: Another card to come out, again to a City player, namely Fernando for bringing down Eden Hazard. Willian to stand over another delivery. Nowhere near any of his teammates, as City clear it easily. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: Running battle between Silva and Matic, which draws frustration from the Spaniard. He was booked for a challenge on Matic in the first half, but I have now counted three occasions where Matic has brought down Silva without any card punishment. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: Advantage played by Clattenburg, as Milner was fouled, and Fernandinho had the ball and fired from range outside 25 yards, but Courtois was placed well to dive and gather! 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'68: Silva stands over this opportunity to deliver a chip, which he does that is away by Azpilicueta. City continue to probe. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'66: Manchester City might be readying their former Chelsea legend, but Chelsea getting ready one of their current ones - Didier Drogba warming up and may be on soon. Remy brings down Fernando, who is down for cramp. Should be okay. 1-1