Only three days before commencing their bid for FA Cup stardom against Man City at the Etihad, Chelsea welcome Pep Guardiola’s men to West London with both sides aiming to lay down a marker after posting a paltry point in the round of New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day fixtures.The second of three quickfire meetings between Chelsea and Manchester City sees the Blues welcome the English champions to Stamford Bridge for Thursday’s Premier League battle.As fans eagerly anticipate news of transfer dealings, Graham Potter is working to improve a meager tally of just one win from his side’s last seven Premier League contests, although runaway leaders Arsenal are the only side to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in top-flight action this term.Seven points separate Chelsea from a place in the top four, but Brentford – who occupy the seventh and potentially final continental place – are only one point clear of their near neighbours having played two games more, and the January arrivals could soon arrive en masse for the Blues.Manchester City have won 7/10 of their last 10 #PL clashes with Chelsea.Kevin De Bruyne started in all 7 wins, and played in only 1 of the 3 losses, missing the other 2 due to injury.He scored in 5 of his 8 games, with a win rate of 87.5%.Crucial 🔑🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/H7hVolf5ZQ— mcfc lads (@mcfc_lads) January 5, 2023 Last time out, Potter’s side accepted a point in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest but the trip to the City Ground at least allowed Chelsea to snap their dire three-game losing run on the road in all competitions.Admitting that he was left “concerned” by the manner of his side’s performance at the City Ground, Potter needs only take one look at the Premier League table to feel even more anguish, as the Blues are languishing in mid-table in ninth place.Failure to overcome the Toffees in the previous round saw Man City enter the New Year a whopping seven points behind Arsenal in the table; that gap has since increased to eight after the Gunners’ goalless draw with Newcastle United, which also leaves the Magpies just one adrift of the champions.Erling Haaland did score against Everton – taking him up to 21 for the Premier League season – which means that Chelsea’s centre defenders will have to battle the Norwegian’s unchinked confidence.Man City dumped Chelsea out of the EFL Cup via a 2-0 scoreline in the third round just before the World Cup, and both Premier League meetings between the two sides in the 2021-22 campaign ended in 1-0 victories for Guardiola’s men, who gleaned a slice of revenge after their Blues-inflicted Champions League heartbreak in Porto.King Kane & Co. shoot down the Eagles of South LondonTravelling to West London with no clean sheets to boast from their last four Premier League contests – and just one in their last seven – City will be encouraged by their record of one away defeat from their most recent 25 in the top flight, and not since 2012 have the champions lost their opening game of the calendar year.Unlike Haaland’s confidence, Chelsea’s roster has been damaged all over the place. Blue’s medical team continues to work overtime on long-term absentees N’Golo Kante and Armando Broja – who have since been joined (again) by Reece James and his latest knee problem. There is optimism over Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ben Chilwell, although the latter may have to wait until the trip to Fulham next week.Wesley Fofana is unlikely to make the cut here as well as Edouard Mendy who is still absent with his shoulder issue. Christian Pulisic can feel confident of holding his place on the left flank while a recall to the midfield should be in order for Mateo Kovacic – who may very well take the place of Jorginho rather than the emerging Denis Zakaria.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Man City are in a much better position, ranks-wise. The Etihad treatment room is down to just two players in Aymeric Laporte (back) and Ruben Dias (hamstring), but the former will be assessed and could be in with a chance of earning some minutes here.Argentinian World Cup hero Julian Alvarez returned off the bench against Everton and should be one of several players in contention for recalls to the first eleven alongside Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – Matchday 19MondayBrentford – Liverpool 3-1 (2-0)/Konate 19 og, Wissa 42, Mbeumo 84 – Oxlade-Chamberlain 50/TuesdayLeicester – Fulham 0-1 (0-1)/Mitrovic 17/Arsenal – Newcastle 0-0Everton – Brighton 1-4 (0-1)/Gray 90+2 (p) – Mitoma 14, Ferguson 51, March 54, Gross 57/Man.Utd. – Bournemouth 3-0 (1-0)/Casemiro 23, Shaw 49, Rashford 86/WednesdaySouthampton – Nott.Forest 0-1 (0-1)/Awoniyi 27/Leeds – West Ham 2-2 (1-1)/Gnonto 27, Rodrigo 70 – Paqueta 44 pen, Scamacca 46/Aston Villa – Wolverhampton 1-1 (0-1)/Ings 78 – Podence 12/Crystal Palace – Tottenham 0-4 (0-0)/Kane 48, 54, Doherty 68, Son 73/Thursday23.00: (5.50) Chelsea (3.90) Man.City (1.70)***odds are subject to change
