Christian Pulisic to start and Gabriel Jesus in for Sergio Aguero? How Chelsea and Man City could line-up at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea host Manchester City on Thursday evening in one of the most mouth-watering Premier League fixtures since the restart.
Pep Guardiola’s men are in explosive form after dismantling Arsenal and Burnley 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.
Guardiola’s men have been incredible since football returned
Frank Lampard’s side came back from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 at the weekend to put themselves in a commanding position in the race for the top four.
It’s an intriguing clash and one City are undoubtedly favourites for, but what are the team news for both sides and how could they line-up for the clash?
Find out below…
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Chelsea team news
Kepa Arrizabalaga will resume his position between the sticks for the Blues.
The Spanish shot-stopper, who joined the club for £71m from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, came under scrutiny earlier this season for a some high-profile errors but had a decent game at the weekend.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen may well be deployed as the back two against City as they were at the weekend too.
Rudiger is seemingly Lampard’s first choice and Christensen got the nod ahead of Kurt Zouma to start against Villa, with academy product Fikayo Tomori still absent with injury.
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Christensen is in line for a start against Man City on Thursday
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who assisted both goals against Villa, will remain at right-back while Marcos Alonso occupies the opposite flank.
The midfield three represents perhaps the most difficult positions for Lampard, who has a wealth of options in the middle of the park.
However, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are pretty certain to start. Kante is unplayable on his day as everyone knows and he was brilliant against Villa, while Kovacic has been the Blues’ player of the season so far.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek looked a little off the pace at the weekend and he may well be replaced by Mount, who could drop deeper and sit the other side of Kante.
Pulisic came off the bench to score against Aston Villa at the weekend
Jorginho returns from suspension but Lampard might stick with Kante in the holding role as he looks to control City’s star-studded attack.
Christian Pulisic came off the bench to score for Chelsea against Villa and he may have earned himself a place in the starting XI, with Willian primed to occupy his usual position on the right wing.
Leading the line over Tammy Abraham should be Olivier Giroud, who has netted three goals in his last six outings.
How Chelsea should look against Man City…
Is this how Frank Lampard’s men could line-up against Man City?
Man City team news
The Citizens are set to be without Sergio Aguero for the rest of the season after he aggravated a knee injury against Burnley last time out.
The Argentine has seen a specialist doctor in Barcelona and is now starting his rehabilitation so Gabriel Jesus looks poised to be City’s main No.9 for the remainder of the campaign.
Aymeric Laporte was named on the bench for the 5-0 drubbing of Burnley at the Etihad but he is unquestionably the club’s strongest defender and will likely pair up with Nicolas Otamendi at the back.
Aguero limped off against Burnley and could miss the remainder of the season
Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker may also return to the starting XI having been named on the bench last time out.
City have so many incredible playmakers in their ranks but it was the youngest one of the lot, Phil Foden, who caught the eye last time out with a glittering display against Burnley.
Given his inexperience in big games, however, Guardiola will likely recall Kevin De Bruyne in favour of the youngster, with David Silva and Rodri completing up a ridiculously talented midfield three.
Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez will be deployed on the left and right wing respectively. Mahrez scored twice against Burnley, and, along with Foden, has been City’s brightest player since the restart.
Is this Man City’s best XI for the clash against Chelsea?
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