Chelsea will be bidding to further strengthen their top-four finish dreams when they travel to Etihad Stadium on Saturday to keep a date with Manchester City in their next game of the season.
The Blues will be going into the high-profile Premier League contest off the back of their convincing 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace in their last match, and they will be looking for another victory over Manchester City on Saturday in a bid to end their five-game winless streak against the Citizens.
Team News:
Chelsea could be going into Saturday’s game against Manchester City without the services of Thiago Silva due to the injury he sustained against Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian was forced off the field during the clash against Crystal Palace due to a groin injury, leaving Chelsea sweating over his availability for upcoming fixtures.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s plans are further disrupted as Benoit Badiashile joins the casualty list with a groin problem, sidelining him for an estimated month. The defensive crisis extends beyond the center-back position, with Wesley Fofana, Robert Sanchez (both knee injuries), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Reece James, Romeo Lavia, and Lesley Ugochukwu (all hamstring issues) occupying the treatment room.
Pochettino’s tactical ingenuity comes into play as he navigates through the absence of key personnel. Former Manchester City midfielder Cole Palmer has been deployed as a false nine in recent fixtures, yet to yield the desired results.
However, the Argentine tactician might opt to reshuffle his attacking setup, possibly relocating Palmer to the right flank. This tactical shift opens up opportunities for either Nicolas Jackson or Christopher Nkunku to assume striking responsibilities. Nkunku, in particular, boasts a formidable scoring record, having netted a hat-trick against Manchester City during his stint with former club RB Leipzig.
Chelsea’s possible starting lineup vs Manchester City:
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo; Palmer, Gallagher, Jackson; Nkunku.
Kickoff Time:
The much anticipated Premier League game will commence at exactly 6:30 PM (Nigerian Time) on Saturday.