Manchester City vs Chelsea: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

The signs of inconsistency are still on show with this Manchester City side, as proved by the collapse in Paris on Wednesday, and a team like Chelsea could pose a much better threat than what the Blues showed in August against Manchester City.

The Citizens are unbeaten in their last five league matches, however they have drawn twice against Everton (1-1) and Brentford (2-2). In both of these games, Manchester City held the advantage and the Brentford game in particular, when their frailties showed, conceding a two-goal lead in the space of ten minutes.

Chelsea are coming into this game, unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions, whilst posing a great attacking potency by scoring first in five of their previous six.

Chelsea were excellent in their last league meeting against Manchester City away from home, drawing 1-1 at the Etihad.

Expect goals in this fixture, as Over 2.5 goals have been scored in the last five involving Manchester City.

We are going for a high-scoring draw between these two sides.

Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea

Cole Palmer visits his old club on Saturday as his former employers try to rescue their Premier League season.

Date: 25/01/2025
Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester.
Kick-Off: 5:30 pm

So far this season, Manchester City mirrors their 2019/20 campaign, as the reigning Premier League champions have seen a minor drop in their league ranking, with Pep Guardiola’s team now engaged in a battle for a top-four finish. To address this issue, the Citizens have focused on strengthening their squad during the January transfer window by acquiring players such as Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt and Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens to enhance their league position.

Manchester City currently sits 5th in the Premier League standings after 22 matches. Following their midweek setback in Paris, they aim to climb the table by the weekend's end. A victory could elevate the Citizens to 4th place, but they risk dropping to 8th if Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth secure points in their matches.

Currently, Chelsea holds a two-point lead over Manchester City, surprisingly vying for a spot in Europe’s top tier next season, contrary to most predictions made at the beginning of the season. To maintain their 4th place in the Premier League, Chelsea must secure a result against Manchester City; if they lose, they could slip to 5th place.

The reverse fixture between the two sides ended in a 2-0 win for Manchester City with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.

The game will be available for viewing on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

Manchester City Team News:

John Stones could be set to start against Chelsea. The England defender had been struggling with a foot injury but made a substitute appearance against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek. Omar Marmoush is expected to be in and around the squad since his arrival on Thursday.

Chelsea Team News

Cole Palmer should be available for the Blues, as the England midfielder had been suffering a knock but still completed a vast majority of their 3-1 win against Wolves. Doubts remain over the likes of Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez.

The recent history between the two sides suggests that Manchester City will be the winner of this fixture despite their inconsistencies across the season. The Citizens have won the last three recognised meetings between the two teams, which included the 2-0 win over the Blues at Stamford Bridge this season. The home side are unbeaten in the last seven league meetings between the two teams. Chelsea last recorded a win against Manchester City in 2021, where goals from Hakim Ziyech and Marcos Alonso gave the Blues the victory. The two league meetings last season ended in a stalemate, with the 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge proving to be one of the games of the season.

Manchester City enters this match after their recent setback against PSG, where they squandered a two-goal advantage and lost 4-2, placing them in a difficult spot in the UEFA Champions League. Notably, their league performance has seen a significant turnaround compared to the team that lost six of their last eight Premier League games. Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their previous five league games, with three wins and two draws - recording emphatic victories against Ipswich Town (0-6) and West Ham (4-1).

The Citizens have relatively strong home form, with six wins and two draws from ten home matches this season. However, there has been an air of frailty and frustration at the Etihad with their inconsistencies creeping into their performances at the Etihad, most notably defeats against Tottenham Hotspur (0-4) and Manchester United (1-2). Manchester City have won twice in their last five home matches, including a draw at home to Everton (1-1).

Chelsea are coming into this game, unbeaten in their last four matches in domestic competition. However, to provide context, the Blues dispatched League Two side Morecambe (5-0) in the FA Cup. Enzo Maresca’s side in the Premier League are unbeaten in their last three league games, having previously gone three without a win, which has seen their momentary title challenge disappear. Chelsea recorded two draws against Crystal Palace (1-1) and Bournemouth (2-2), while they beat Wolves (3-1) last time out.

Away from home, the Blues have been relatively strong in recent weeks, as they have only lost once in their previous six Premier League matches on their travels. Chelsea are winless in their previous three away-from-home, with a defeat against Ipswich Town (2-0). In context, Chelsea had recorded wins against Leicester City (1-2), Southampton (1-5) and Tottenham Hotspur (3-4).

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