Manchester City appears to have weathered the COVID-19 storm that led to their match against Everton on Monday being postponed. They have since resumed training and their match against Chelsea tomorrow seems to be going ahead as scheduled.
The Blues will be hoping their start to 2021 is much better than their end to 2020. The Londoners come into the match in very poor form, from their six league games in December they have managed two wins, one draw, and three losses.
City’s form is much better in comparison. Their last five games in December consisted of three wins and two draws. With their last defeat coming against Spurs in November. (BBC)
Both teams will be looking for the win and for Chelsea, the game comes at a vital point in their season. A loss to City could see them lose significant pace to the teams at the top of the table, on the flip side a win would be euphoric. The league is still relatively tight and three points against a strong City side would be a major boost to their season.
Team News
Chelsea
For Chelsea, Reece James is unavailable for the game. Lampard confirmed in his Friday afternoon press conference that the England right-back is dealing with a hamstring problem. (Chelsea FC)
Hakim Ziyech seems to have fully recovered from his hamstring issue, with pictures surfacing around social media of him participating in training Thursday evening. Lampard also confirmed that the winger has trained the past 2 or 3 days.
Hakim Ziyech pictured in training today.#CFC pic.twitter.com/BZ2VZyd5PG
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) December 31, 2020
Man City
Today’s visitors have not recorded any new COVID-19 cases since their last wave of positive tests, but they could still be without a few players this tomorrow. Goalkeeper Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, and Kyle Walker are all doubts for the game after having to self-isolate from their first round of positive tests.
Form Guide
Chelsea Premier League form: WLLWLD
Chelsea form (all competitions): DLLWLD
Manchester City Premier League form: WWDDWW
Manchester City form (all competitions): WDDWWW
Stats by Opta
- Chelsea have won their last two Premier League home games against Manchester City, last winning more consecutively against them at Stamford Bridge between 2006-2009 (4).
- 36% of Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud’s 89 Premier League goals have been headers (32 of 89), including last time out versus Aston Villa – the Frenchman has scored more headed goals in the competition than any other player since his debut in August 2012 (32)
- None of the last ten Premier League meetings between Chelsea (4 wins) and Man City (6 wins) have finished level, with the home side winning each of the last five in the competition.
- Frank Lampard has averaged 1.70 points per game as Chelsea manager, the same record as André Villas-Boas at the club in the Premier League. Of all Chelsea managers to have taken charge of 20+ Premier League games, only Glenn Hoddle (1.27), Ian Porterfield (1.28), and Ruud Gullit (1.65) have a lower such ratio for the Blues.
- Chelsea have failed to win their first Premier League game in each of the last four calendar years (D3 L1), since winning 3-0 at Crystal Palace in 2016.
