Manchester City look to continue their dominance of English football when they host Chelsea on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. Having already secured their spot in the Champions League final in midweek, they also have the FA Cup final to look forward to against fierce rivals Manchester United. But before that, they must secure the Premier League title, and they could be crowned champions before they even kick a ball if Arsenal lose on Saturday.
Despite having a large squad to choose from, manager Pep Guardiola is unlikely to rotate heavily against Chelsea as he looks to secure the title. Only Nathan Ake is currently injured, meaning players like Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden could come in out wide. The predicted lineup for Man City is Ederson in goal, with defenders Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones. They will have a midfield pivot of Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan, with Kevin De Bruyne in an advanced role alongside Mahrez and Foden, and striker Erling Haaland.
For Chelsea, they will be without several key players such as Reece James, Mason Mount, and N’Golo Kante as they look to escape their final three games with points to improve their current tally. Manager Frank Lampard may opt to rest goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after his poor performance in their recent match, with Kepa Arrizabalaga coming back in. The predicted lineup for Chelsea is Arrizabalaga in goal, with defenders Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile. Their midfield trio will be comprised of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Joaquin Fernandez, and Conor Gallagher, with Donyell Malen, Joao Felix, and Raheem Sterling in attack.
The Chelsea fans who were watching City‘s demolition of Real Madrid on Wednesday must have been dreading their upcoming match. They face a tough end to their season, with fixtures against City, Manchester United, and Newcastle. The landscape of the match could be different if Arsenal fall to defeat on Saturday, but either way, City are expected to come away with a comfortable victory that will seal their Premier League title. Our prediction is a 4-0 win for Manchester City.
