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A match that was so often one of the highlights of the Premier League season may have lost a little of its sparkle as Chelsea downtrend, but that is about to change.
Chelsea are nowhere near the finished article but there’s little denying that they are on the way back given the quality of their performances this season – Mauricio Pochettino is doing a fine job in charge of the Blues.
Still, this is their biggest challenge to date. It’s Manchester City. The best team in the Premier League and, given their Champions League crown, Europe. They’ll probably prove to be the best in the world soon too. A wounded animal, Man City hit Bournemouth for six last time out to reclaim their spot at the top of the table.
Can Chelsea stop them? We’ll find out. In the meantime, given you’re here, you should read all the important numbers ahead of this crunch Premier League clash to create a winning Chelsea vs Man City bet builder.
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CHELSEA VS MAN CITY PREDICTED LINEUPS
No need for Chelsea to change
Mauricio Pochettino has little need to make adaptations given they won 4-1 last time out and also lack much strength in depth. Reece James got through over an hour of that game on Monday as he looks to manage his load. Levi Colwill remains ahead of Marc Cucurella at left-back while Nicolas Jackson surely won’t be dropped after scoring a hat-trick on Monday.
Pep to pick his best XI
John Stones went off at half-time in the week, succumbing to another injury, which has proven very frustrating. It’s a good job he has Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol available to step in, not to mention Manuel Akanji. Elsewhere, Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva remained on the bench in the week while Phil Foden and Jack Grealish played the full 90, meaning they are likely to start in this one.
CHELSEA VS MAN CITY TEAM STATS
Chelsea one of the best attacking sides in the league
If only Chelsea had ruthless forwards. Only Liverpool and Newcastle United can claim to have a better xG across the Premier League season and Chelsea are the most consistent, reaching 1.3 xG in all 11 matches. They’ve had four or more shots on target in eight of those. Cards are a regular feature of their matches, collecting two or more yellow cards in ten outings while drawing two or more in nine.
City frustrate defensively
Man City have conceded more than 1xG just once all season. They’ve not conceded more than Four shots on target and only conceded Four on one occasion. That frustration clearly boils over for opponents who have collected two or more yellow cards in 9 of their 11 matches – the other two came in performances so dominant the opposition apparently couldn’t get near them, or gave up.
CHELSEA VS MAN CITY SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET stats
Chelsea not afraid to try their luck
Chelsea take a lot of shots and a number of players could be worth backing at decent prices on Sunday. For example, Cole Palmer has taken two or more shots in his last seven starts, which can be backed at 10/11. Raheem Sterling has done the same in seven of his last nine starts and is available at 11/10. Enzo Fernandez is 2/5 to have a single shot having taken a shot in every Premier League game.
Plenty of options for the bet builder at City
Unsurprisingly, backing Erling Haaland shots is a total write off. Thankfully, they have other good footballers. Julian Alvarez is 3/10 to have two or more shots (completed in 10 of 11 games) and 4/9 for a shot on target (8 in 11) while Jeremy Doku is proving lively, having a shot on target in five of six starts (4/6) and 2 or more shots in those (8/13). Rodri could be a fun option too – he’s had two or more shots in 9 of 14 matches in all competitions and can be backed at 4/6.
CHELSEA VS MAN CITY GOALS AND ASSISTS stats
Palmer finding his feet
Cole Palmer faces Manchester City for the first time since his summer departure ready to prove why he was good enough to play regularly for the champions. While others around him continue to flop – even Nicolas Jackson’s hat-trick last week wasn’t well received given the opposition’s situation – Palmer is flying with a goal contribution in five of his last seven starts in all competitions.
Usual suspects standing up for City
You can’t mention Man City goal and assists without referencing arguably the best number 9 in world football at present – Erling Haaland. He’s 4/6 to add to his total, something that feels plausible against a front-foot Chelsea side with a 39-year-old at centre-half. His supporting cast are stepping up with Jeremy Doku finishing last week with a whopping four assists – he’s available to add another contribution at 8/5.
CHELSEA CARDS AND FOULS stats
Chelsea full-backs to be tested
Neither will appear in the graphic below, but Reece James – two fouls in five appearances – and Levi Colwill – three fouls in five appearances as an out-and-out left-back – should be noted here given their opponents. More on them later. As for the more regular committers of fouls, Conor Gallagher (10 in 11 appearances), Moises Caicedo (Seven in Nine) and Enzo Fernandez (Seven in Ten) enjoy regularly fouling the opposition and that could become notable if Matheus Nunes enters the pitch.
Firstly, Nunes. He’s been fouled 1.82 times per 90 for Man City and fouled in all 7 starts this season across all competitions, including his time at Wolves. It’s the wingers that cause the most problems for opponents, however. Jeremy Doku is expected to start and he has been fouled twice or more in six of his seven starts, but don’t write off Phil Foden and Jack Grealish entering the field – the former has been fouled in 15 of 18 matches in all competitions and the latter in all 8 of his starts.
MAN CITY CARDS AND FOULS
Midfield clashes could be worth looking at
Man City’s fouls tend to come from their midfield as they look to stop counter attacks. It’s why ex-Chelsea man Mateo Kovacic has committed 11 fouls in 6.1 90’s, Rodri 12 fouls in 8.1 90’s and Julian Alvarez 10 fouls in 10.1 fouls. The value play would be Kovacic given the available odds here – you can back him at 8/15.
The likelihood of each committing a foul is high given their opposition. Moises Caicedo has been fouled two or more times in six of his nine Premier League starts for Chelsea. Enzo Fernandez has been fouled in 9 of his 10 Premier League starts. And Conor Gallagher has been fouled in 10 of his 11 starts. If that isn’t enough, Raheem Sterling could find himself moving through central positions on the break and has been fouled in 10 of his 11 starts.
CHELSEA VS MAN CITY BET BUILDER TIPS AND PICKS OF THE PACK
We have complied a four-leg Chelsea vs Manchester City Bet Builder for you, please make sure to read our reasoning behind our Bet Builder Selections and change out any picks you aren’t confident in to make your ideal Chelsea vs Manchester City Bet Builder.
Chelsea vs Manchester City
12th November
kick off 16:30 Over 1.5 Goals
Chelsea have seen 2 or more goals in their last 5 matches
Man City have seen 9 of their 11 league matches finish with 2 or more goals
Julian Alvarez to have 2 or more shotsAlvarez has had 2 or more shots in 10 of 11 matches
Chelsea have conceded 10 or more shots in 8 of 11 matches
Mateo Kovacic to commit 1 or more foulsKovacic has committed near 2 fouls per 90 played in the Premier League this season
Caicedo, Gallagher and Fernandes have all been fouled between 1.4 and 1.65 times per 90 this season
Levi Colwill to commit 1 or more foulsColwill has committed a foul in 3 of 5 matches playing as an orthodox left-back.
Colwill will be up against one of Jeremy Doku (2.73 fouls drawn per 90) or Phil Foden (1.85) at any point of the game
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