Five things to look out for – Manchester City vs Chelsea

Manchester Metropolis can be hoping to get again to profitable methods as they welcome managerless Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium within the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s group drew 0-0 with Sunderland in midweek to finish their eight sport profitable streak, and misplaced Savinho and probably Nico Gonzalez to accidents picked up throughout that sport.

Chelsea, in the meantime, can be enjoying their first sport since supervisor Enzo Maresca was sacked on New 12 months’s Day.

The previous Metropolis assistant supervisor and his group’s departure means Below 21’s supervisor Calum McFarlane will take cost, and his job can be made more durable with key participant Moises Caicedo suspended for the journey to Manchester.

Listed below are 5 issues to look out for as Metropolis play their first dwelling fixture of 2026:

Does Rodri begin if Nico G can’t play?

No questions have been requested to Guardiola concerning the health of Nico, who was changed by Rodri at half time after he went down injured partway by the primary half.

We all know that Savinho will in all probability be out for some time after Guardiola stated his harm didn’t look nice, however Nico’s health is especially up within the air contemplating he wasn’t pictured in coaching within the buildup to this sport.

The apparent candidate to interchange the Spaniard with Mateo Kovacic additionally out injured is Rodri, who has simply returned from harm himself.

The 2024 Ballon D’or winner missed nearly all of final season with an anterior cruciate ligament harm, and this yr has struggled with issues along with his hamstring.

However Guardiola insists he’s been constructing again his health over the previous few weeks, and got here on in opposition to Sunderland within the second half to play exceptionally properly.

He isn’t probably to have the ability to begin but, although no different participant within the squad can play the function significantly properly apart from him or Nico.

Guardiola has a little bit of a weak point with Rodri; he’s in order that good that he can’t assist himself however convey him into the group at any time when he’s match. I believe he’ll begin if Nico isn’t match, which might actually backfire if he goes off injured.

Palmer trying to rating for the primary time again on the Etihad

Cole Palmer has been one of many league’s finest gamers since he left Metropolis as an untested youth participant to affix Chelsea in 2023, however there’s one factor he nonetheless hasn’t achieved.

He didn’t have an incredible 2025 on the entire with poor kind and muscle accidents stopping his persevering with improvement, however he sparkled for Chelsea of their UEFA Convention League and FIFA Membership World Cup victories.

The 23-year-old nonetheless hasn’t scored since coming again to the Etihad, nonetheless, and solely has one purpose general in opposition to the Blues since his departure.

He wasn’t deemed adequate on the time he left and was offered regardless of solely wanting to depart on mortgage. Metropolis made a mistake with him and he’ll be trying to make them pay as all the time.

Together with Rodri, Jeremy Doku made his return from harm on Thursday evening.

The Belgian winger had some excellent moments, practically scoring at one level within the second half, but in addition confirmed a number of indicators of rustiness and wasn’t in a position to assist Metropolis get a win over the road.

Doku has had an excellent season up so far, making a giant step up from his promising first season and common second season in sky blue. I believe he deserves to be introduced again into the primary XI significantly with Savinho out injured, to inject a little bit of tempo and power into the aspect from the left.

Chelsea open in midfield with out Caicedo

Caicedo is as necessary to Chelsea as Rodri is to Metropolis, and so they’ll miss him dearly.

The Ecuadorian midfielder has accrued 5 yellow playing cards over the course of the season, and is suspended for his or her journey to the Etihad.

Harm inclined former Metropolis participant Romeo Lavia can be unavailable, so Chelsea should drive some sq. pegs into spherical holes.

Enzo Fernandez is best additional up the pitch, and Reece James is among the finest proper backs within the league, however they would be the more than likely double pivot.

That ought to depart a good bit of open area in midfield that may be exploited by Phil Foden and co for Metropolis.

Ake beginning forward of O’Reilly

Lastly, I believe as soon as once more we’ll see a change to the common again 4 that we’ve seen all through this season.

Nathan Ake began in opposition to Sunderland and had an excellent sport. He went down having twisted his knee after a couple of minutes, however received up and performed the remainder of the sport.

He deserves to maintain his place within the aspect, however Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly have been excellent all season too (therefore why Ake has had such restricted enjoying time.)

O’Reilly was changed very early in opposition to the Black Cats, and Gvardiol provided extra of an attacking menace than him.

I wouldn’t be stunned to see Ake and Gvardiol begin together with Matheus Nunes and Ruben Dias in Metropolis’s again 4, as O’Reilly seemed in determined want of a relaxation when he was changed.