This is the perfect time for Pep Guardiola to silence the Manchester City doubters…
A day of huge consequence in English football slowly dawns upon us and will surely be marked down as a day to remember, quite so how the 5th of November was commemorated in the 2006 classic ‘V for Vendetta’.
Saturday the twenty-third marks the return of the Premier League after the international break with defending champions Manchester City playing host to Frank Lampard’s young guns Chelsea, who travel to the Etihad Stadium to lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s men on their own patch.
Chelsea, whose veins are bustling with confidence after their recent seven-game unbeaten streak, go into the tie with more conviction than they have in recent years. Under Maurizio Sarri’s guidance last year, the Blues were thumped 6-0 with the champions racing to a 4-0 lead within the first twenty-four minutes.
Guardiola and his men, on the contrary, have been under the cosh this season. Last week’s defeat at Liverpool handed the 6-time European champions the initiative with Jurgen Klopp’s men steering nine points clear of the men from Manchester.
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Signs of City’s regression have been visible this year with the side succumbing to defeats to the likes of Norwich and Wolves. French defender Aymeric Laporte has been a big miss and some of the defending from his replacements John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi has been downright scandalous.
Fit and firing on all cylinders, however, have been the Cityzens’ strike force who have outscored every team in the league. Being supplied by a highly potent Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva certainly has its perks. More often than not, City have broken the deadlock only to witness their center-back pairing throw it all away.
Fernandinho has been deployed as a makeshift defender in recent weeks and even that has failed to stem the tide. City look even more vulnerable on counter-attacks and for a side that prefers to have the lion’s share of the possession, the signs do not look good.
Chelsea’s season so far has exceeded expectations. The weight of Hazard’s departure coupled with a transfer ban had fans bracing themselves for a torrid season. However, as of Friday, the Blues sit a whole point ahead of the two-time defending champions in the league standings. Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge seems to have galvanized the outfit.
A major part of their success story so far has been down to the form of their academy talents. Tammy Abraham has fired in 10 goals this season, more than the likes of Rashford, Jesus and even Aguero. Mason Mount has been a bundle of energy in midfield and Hudson-Odoi has threatened every time he has taken to the pitch.
Jorginho’s resurgence has seen him transition from a Chelsea boo-boy to a modern-day Pirlo and the center-back pairing of Tomori and Zouma have been symbols of strength and grit. All in all, Chelsea possess the right blend of youth and experience to go all the way.
Manchester City are expected to line-up in their usual 4-3-3 with the team actively seeking to hold on to the ball and exploit the half-spaces. As is the routine for visiting teams at the City of Manchester Stadium, Chelsea will look to defend in banks of four and hit Guardiola’s men on the counter. The Spaniard has to be wary of the threat posed by the pacy forward trio of Hudson-Odoi, Abraham, and Willian.
Lampard’s men, on the other hand, must look to stifle the in-form Raheem Sterling and cut off his supply line by nullifying de Bruyne’s impact on the game. Aguero is also a genuine goal threat and Chelsea will not have fond memories of the City number ten with the Argentine hitman notching up a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last year.
For Guardiola, it is a must-win fixture; lose and he risks going further behind in the title race. Frank Lampard faces his first real test as Chelsea manager and it is to be seen how he will fare. Expect both teams to put on a show of their attacking prowess with the fixture essentially guaranteeing goals.
A battle between the sea and the sky, between dark and light blue, Manchester City and Chelsea; a battle between two historic clubs, a battle whose outcome will reverberate through the upper echelons of the Premier League table has seen its lines being drawn and those pitted against each other eagerly wait to draw first blood.
What is your score prediction for this match?