The West Londoners are seeking revenge having already lost three times against the Citizens this campaign, including a 1-0 league defeat at Stamford Bridge in January courtesy of a second-half strike from Riyad Mahrez.
Team News
Manchester City
- Man City’s only injury concern is with former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and is considered a doubt for Sunday.
- With three Premier League games in eight days to prepare for, Guardiola is expected to make a few alterations to his starting lineup, with Aymeric Laporte an option to come into defence at the expense of either Akanji or Kyle Walker.
- Mahrez has scored four goals in his last three meetings with Chelsea and will be pushing to start ahead of Bernardo Silva on the right flank, while Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez are also hoping to force their way back into the first XI after beginning on the bench in midweek.
- In-form captain Ilkay Gundogan, who has scored four goals in his last two league games, and playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who has registered seven assists in his last nine matches in all competitions, are both expected to start again in advanced roles in behind the Premier League’s top scorer Erling Braut Haaland.
Chelsea
- As for Chelsea, Benoit Badiashile is the latest name to join a lengthy list of absentees after the defender picked up a groin injury in training; Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella (all hamstring), Mason Mount (pelvic), N’Golo Kante (groin) and Armando Broja (knee) are also ruled out with injuries, while Kalidou Koulibaly (hamstring) and Mateo Kovacic (unspecified) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
- Lampard will weigh up whether to stick with Edouard Mendy in goal or recall Kepa Arrizabalaga, while Wesley Fofana is expected to replace Badiashile in the first XI, which could also include Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah should the Blues boss decide to switch to a back three.
- Kai Havertz, Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Hakim Ziyech will all battle for a place in the final third alongside former Man City man Sterling, who is likely to retain his place after scoring twice last weekend.
Possible Lineup
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Chelsea: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, W. Fofana; Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Fernandez, Gallagher, Hall; Sterling, Havertz
Prediction Analysis
Even if Guardiola decides to rotate his side, Man City have the strength in depth to dispatch a Chelsea outfit merely playing for pride and experiencing an experimental phase as the season draws to a close.
The Citizens have won their final home league fixture in eight of the last nine seasons and we expect them to secure another comfortable victory over the Blues in front of a party atmosphere at the Etihad.
Our prediction is Manchester City 3-0 Chelsea