Man City vs Chelsea: Lineups, Team News and Prediction

Man City, sitting second in the league, welcome Chelsea, who occupy fifth position, to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, January 4th, 2026, at 12:30 PM EST. The Citizens will be looking to close the gap on the league leaders, while the Blues aim to strengthen their grip on a European spot.

Man City vs Chelsea Form

Man City secured a goalless draw in their last match away at Sunderland. The Citizens are currently undefeated in their last seven Premier League matches. Moreover, the Sky Blues have been in imperious form at home, winning their last four games at the Etihad.

Chelsea played out a 2-2 draw in their most recent game against Bournemouth. The Blues have struggled for consistency of late, as reflected in their current form ranking of 14th. Notably, Chelsea have conceded at least two goals in their last three Premier League matches. One of the key facts to consider is that Man City have won 10 of their last 12 matches against Chelsea in all competitions.

Man City vs Chelsea Head to Head

The last time these two teams met, Man City emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline.

In the previous six encounters, Man City have dominated, winning four and drawing two.

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Man City vs Chelsea Odds

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Man City vs Chelsea Probable 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

The midfield battle will be crucial, with City's Bernardo Silva and Nico González looking to control possession against Chelsea's Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernández. The Citizens' attacking prowess down the wings, with Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, will test Chelsea's full-backs, while Erling Haaland's finishing ability will pose a constant threat. The Blues will rely on the creativity of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto to unlock City's defence and provide service to Joao Pedro.

Man City vs Chelsea Team News

Man City will be without Mateo Kovacic due to injury. John Stones and Oscar Bobb are doubtful for the match. Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri are unavailable due to international duty.

Chelsea will miss Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile through injury, along with Levi Colwill. Marc Cucurella is doubtful. Moises Caicedo is suspended, and Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable for undisclosed reasons. The absence of Moises Caicedo in midfield will be a significant blow for the visitors.

Man City vs Chelsea Match Facts

• Man City have won 10 of their last 12 matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
• Man City are undefeated in their last 7 matches in Premier League.
• Man City have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Chelsea's last 3 games in Premier League.
• Chelsea have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches in Premier League.

Prediction: Man City 3-1 Chelsea

Given Man City's home form, Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities, and the Citizens' historical dominance in this fixture, a comfortable home win seems likely. Man City excels at finishing scoring chances, counter-attacks, and attacking down the wings, while Chelsea struggle to stop opponents from creating chances. The Citizens are expected to control the game in the opposition's half, utilizing short passes and possession football. The match forecast suggests that Man City will create many scoring chances.

Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals (-200) Click here to get the best odds on bet365 Sportsbook

Considering the fact that there have been over 2.5 goals scored in Chelsea's last three Premier League games, and Man City's propensity to score at least two goals against Chelsea, betting on over 2.5 goals in the match seems a solid option.