Neil Squires live from the Etihad
Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling both start against former club Manchester City for Chelsea.
It will be Palmer’s first game back at the Etihad since his deadline day move to London in September.
Palmer, 21, has 12 goals and nine assists this season and converted the late penalty which earned Chelsea a point in the crazy 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
City, who have Manuel Akanji back for John Stones, start Jeremy Doku on the wing with Jack Grealish ruled out with a groin injury. They also bring in Julian Alvarez in place of Bernardo Silva who is named on the bench after his shin knock in Denmark.
Match preview
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester City taking on Chelsea this evening at the Etihad. Manchester City go into tonight’s game five points off the top after Liverpool won 4-1 at Brentford earlier this afternoon. Pep Guardiola is expecting a real challenge from Chelsea this evening. The last time these two sides met in the league back in November was dramatic to say the least; Cole Palmer’s late penalty against his former club made it 4-4.
“They are an exceptional team, exceptional in all departments. One of the toughest games we have until the end of the season. They have it all.
“It’s an exceptional team, in all departments. It’ll be one of the toughest games we have until the end of the season.
“They’ve been playing really really good in the last few games. The intensity, the quality. They’re a really good team – it’ll be tough.”
Cole Palmer (centre) scored a late equaliser against his former club back in November
Credit: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Manchester City were in Champions League action on Tuesday as they won 3-1 at Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. That win was Manchester City’s 11th consecutive win in all competitions. Jack Grealish went off injured in that win and is not available tonight. Bernardo Silva also picked up a knock in that match and he is a doubt. Josko Gvardiol remains out with an ankle injury.
Chelsea were involved in Premier League action on Monday night as they came from behind to win 3-1 away at Crystal Palace thanks to a double from Conor Gallagher and a goal from Enzo Fernandez. They will be without defender Thiago Silva, who went off injured in that victory over Crystal Palace. They could welcome back goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who has been out for two months with a knee problem.
Chelsea’s recent record against Manchester City is not good; they are winless in their last seven league and cup games. The last time Chelsea were victorious was the 2021 Champions League final.
Team news to follow shortly.