How we expect Man City to lineup against Chelsea

Pep Guardiola’s side can all but end any distant hope Thomas Tuchel’s team still have of catching them atop England’s elite division and, while there have been Covid issues in the City camp, the strength of their XI against Swindon in the FA Cup would suggest there are plenty of stellar options available.

Riyad Mahrez, though, is away on international duty with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations,

Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva all played in the FA Cup romp and, while Cole Palmer impressed, it’s hard to see a way in which the youngster starts a game of this magnitude outside of further fitness injuries.

Manchester City predicted XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Dias, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Foden

Kick-off time: 12.30pm GMT, Saturday January 15 2022.

TV channel: BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate.