Macca shares his 8/1 Bet Builder Tip featuring Enzo Fernandez as Man City face manager-less Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
| Tournament: | Premier League |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Etihad Stadium, Manchester |
| Date: | 04.01.2026 |
| Time: | 17:30 GMT |
Man City vs Chelsea Form and Head to Head
Man City enter this match in excellent form, having won their last Premier League game 3-0 against West Ham. The Sky Blues are undefeated in their last seven Premier League matches.
The Citizens have been dominant at home, currently sitting second in the home standings. However, their most recent away fixture saw them held to a 0-0 draw against Sunderland.
Chelsea, meanwhile, drew 2-2 in their last Premier League match against Bournemouth. The Blues have struggled for consistency, currently sitting in sixth position in the away standings, demonstrating a mixed bag of results on the road.
One fact to consider is that Man City have won 10 of their last 12 matches against Chelsea in all competitions. The most recent meeting between these two sides saw Man City emerge victorious with a 3-1 win.
Looking at the last six encounters, Man City have dominated, winning four and drawing two. It's also worth noting that Man City have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
Who is betting favourite in Man City vs Chelsea?
According to latest odds, Manchester City are favourites at around 62% implied win probability to beat Chelsea, while Chelsea sit at 22%.
| Match Result | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Man City | 8/13 | Unibet |
| Chelsea | 22/5 | 10bet |
| Draw | 18/5 | BetMGM |
Odds last updated at 11:15AM Sunday, 4th January.
Man City vs Chelsea Team News
Man City will be without Kovacic due to injury, while Stones and Bobb are doubtful. Marmoush and Aït-Nouri are unavailable due to international duty. Gvardiol is likely to be recalled to the starting lineup. Doku could also feature in the starting XI.
Chelsea will miss Lavia and Badiashile through injury, with Colwill also sidelined. Cucurella is doubtful, and Caicedo is suspended. Mudryk is unavailable for undisclosed reasons. Neto is expected to return on the right wing, and Santos and Pedro could also start. James will captain the side.
Man City vs Chelsea Predicted Lineups
Man City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; O'Reilly, Gvardiol, Dias, Nunes; González, Silva; Doku, Foden, Cherki; Haaland
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, James; Santos, Fernández; Garnacho, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
Lineups powered by WhoScored.com.
Man City vs Chelsea Match Prediction
Manchester City, currently second in the Premier League, will be eager to capitalise on their home advantage and close the gap on league leaders Arsenal. Their attacking prowess, highlighted by their strength in finishing scoring chances and creating chances through individual skill, will pose a significant threat to Chelsea's defence. Given Chelsea's struggles in stopping opponents from creating chances, the Citizens are likely to dominate the game.
Chelsea, despite their attacking strengths in shooting from direct free kicks and attacking down the wings, will face a tough challenge in containing City's relentless attacks. The absence of Caicedo through suspension will further weaken their midfield, making it difficult to control the game.
Considering these factors, a 3-1 victory for Man City seems the most probable outcome. The home side's ability to create numerous scoring chances, as indicated by statistical forecasts, should see them comfortably overcome the Blues.
Prediction: Man City 3-1 Chelsea
Man City vs Chelsea Player Stat Trends
Our EV Eagle has picked out five trending player stats for Man City vs Chelsea.
Find 100s more player stat trends in our Trends Tool, available to Oddschecker+ Premium subscribers.
Nicolas Gonzalez has exceeded 1.5 Fouls in 6 of his last 8 games.
Best odds of evens at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Erling Haaland has failed to exceed 3.5 Shots in 5 of his last 6 games.
Best odds of 1/1 at bet365 while publishing.
Trevoh Chalobah has exceeded 0.5 Fouls in 6 of their last 10 games.
Best odds of 4/5 at Ladbrokes while publishing.
Tijani Reijnders has exceeded 0.5 Shots On Target in 4 of his last 5 games.
Best odds of 5/6 at BetVictor while publishing.
Cole Palmer has exceeded 0.5 Shots On Target in 4 of his last 5 games.
Best odds of 19/20 at Unibet while publishing.
Macca's Man City vs Chelsea Bet Builder Tip
Manchester City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad at a point in the season where both clubs arrive with pressure, but for very different reasons. City remain firmly in the title race and know home fixtures like this carry little margin for error, especially with Arsenal setting the pace at the top. Pep Guardiola’s side have been superb at home, controlling games through sustained pressure, even when recent results have not always reflected their dominance.
Chelsea travel north amid uncertainty following the departure of Enzo Maresca earlier in the week. Interim boss Calum McFarlane steps in for a daunting assignment against one of the league’s most tactically demanding opponents. The Blues’ recent performances have been inconsistent, with promising spells often undermined by lapses in control, and that task is made harder by the absence of Moises Caicedo in midfield.
Manchester City to win
Manchester City return to the Etihad knowing this is the type of fixture they usually convert into three points. Their home form remains a major strength, with Guardiola’s side consistently controlling possession in Manchester even when recent away results have been less convincing.
Chelsea arrive in very different circumstances. The loss of a manager mid-season adds an extra layer of uncertainty, particularly away from home against one of the best teams in the league. While there is quality in the squad, their recent performances have shown issues with control in midfield and game management, problems that are often exposed most clearly against possession-heavy sides like City. No Caicedo is also a huge hit for Chelsea, and their performances dip without him.
Enzo Fernandez Shot on Target
Enzo is averaging 2.33 shots across his last 15 appearances, with nine of his last ten games producing at least two attempts. From those efforts, he is averaging 0.93 shots on target, having tested the goalkeeper against tough opposition, including Arsenal, Barcelona, and Liverpool during that run. Manchester City does restrict shot volume better than most teams in the league, but the key here is price. Enzo is often around the 1.6 to 1.8 mark to register a shot on target, so the much-improved odds this time round, despite the tougher opposition, make this attractive.
Enzo Fernandez Over 1.5 Fouls Won
Half of Enzo’s last 20 matches have seen him win more than one foul, yet we are being offered a price well above evens for him to land two here. With the title race tight, Manchester City are likely to press aggressively and get tight to Chelsea’s key midfielders. Enzo should find himself frequently up against Nico Gonzalez, who averages 1.68 fouls per 90, as well as Bernardo Silva at 1.2 fouls per 90, with Silva’s foul numbers typically increasing in the big games.
