Three ways Chelsea can line-up vs Man City with new Cole Palmer role and Thiago Silva question
Mauricio Pochettino's run of big tests at Chelsea continues and it could hardly get any more tough. In Manchester City he is coming up against a side that has been banging in goals this season and seemingly now getting close to peak flow.
After losing to Arsenal before the last international break, a game that rounded off three defeats in four games, City have now won five in a row, scoring 17 and conceding just three. Pep Guardiola's men are back at the summit and will be aiming to stay there for the rest of the campaign whilst Chelsea could fall to 13th by the end of the weekend.
If there is to be a shred of hope it's that Pochettino's meeting with the Citizens at Tottenham in 2019 was also the source of one of his greatest-ever achievements as manager. Although Spurs lost 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg it was a result that saw them progress to the Champions League semi-finals against pretty much all odds.
On a dramatic night, one that Raheem Sterling won't remember fondly, Pochettino progressed through on away goals. Since then, however, he has lost four of the past six meetings. City are also the side that he has faced most as manager and that comes off the back of Chelsea being comfortably beaten in all four meetings last term.
The Blues are certain underdogs, and for good reason, but do come in off the back of one of their best results, if not performances, in recent years. They have also excelled in big matches this season and are unbeaten in games against Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Brighton.
That doesn't quite prepare them for the challenge ahead but it is a reason to at least believe, something that was missing from their games against the same opponents last year. Here, football.london takes a
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