Roberto Mancini is perfectly aware that his side need the three points on offer in this fixture if his side are to maintain a title challenge. For this fixture Mancini is sweating on the availability of Gareth Barry and Vincent Kompany. The former has an ankle injury and the latter a calf injury.
If we`re going to get anything from Manchester City this weekend we`re going to have to reverse a trend. Our last three visits to the Etihad Stadium have ended in defeat, although, overall the statistics do favour us with Chelsea winning 10 of their 15 visits.
But, in the last eight fixtures, in all competitions, City have the edge having won 58, including the Community Shield, at Villa Park, back in August, my, that seems an age ago.
Stat of the game: City, beaten at Southampton in their last game, have played 92 games since they last lost successive Premier League outings, in October 2010.
With Manchester United in danger of disappearing over the horizon at the top of the Premier League, this fixture is nothing less than a battle for the dubious distinction of second place.
City currently sit four points clear of Rafael Benítez’s team, but if one team wins at the Etihad, they will have the momentum over the final weeks of the campaign in the race to be crowned best of the rest.
Sunday, February 24
Manchester City v Chelsea
Etihad Stadium
Kick-off: 13.30 GMT.
TV: Live Sky Sports 1, Highlightes BBC ONE Match of the Day 2.
Manchester City (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Lescott, Nastasic, Clichy; Y Touré, Garcia; Nasri, Silva, Agüero; Dzeko.
Out: Richards (knee).
Test: Kompany (calf), Barry (ankle).
Chelsea (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Luiz; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Ba.
Out: Romeu (knee).
Referee: Andre Marriner.
Watch Chelsea vs Man City Live OnlineWatch Man City vs Chelsea Streaming Live
Man City vs Chelsea 2012 Live Stream
Goals Man City vs Chelsea
Man City v Chelsea Highlights
English Premier League Live Stream Free