Chelsea welcome Pep Guardiola’s team to West London only three days before they begin their quest for FA Cup glory against Man City at the Etihad. Both teams are looking to make a statement after recording a pitiful point in the round of New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day matches!
At least a trip to the City Ground allowed Chelsea to end their terrible three-game road losing streak in all competitions, but the travelling supporters could only cheer on a bizarre Raheem Sterling goal before Serge Aurier expertly volleyed home a well-earned equaliser for Nottingham Forest.
Potter acknowledged that the manner of his team’s performance at the City Ground left him “concerned,” but all it takes is one glance at the Premier League standings to add to his misery: the Blues are currently languishing in ninth place, below West London rivals Brentford and Fulham.
Seven points separate Chelsea from a spot in the top four, but Brentford, who currently hold the seventh and possibly final continental spot, are only one point ahead of their close neighbours after playing two more games, and the Blues may soon see a large influx of January signings.
Demarai Gray of Everton put his name in the running for the personal award to further undermine Man City’s chances of winning the Premier League for a third straight season. Opposition players scoring goal-of-the-season-caliber efforts at the Etihad are nothing new – see Andros Townsend in 2018–19.
Erling Braut Haaland scored his customary goal, giving him a total of 21 goals for the Premier League season. Gray then rifled an arrowed shot into the top corner via the underside of the crossbar to cause chaos in the away end, ending any hope of a late comeback for the hosts.
Man City started the new year off in 2nd position, seven points behind Arsenal. After the Gunners drew 0-0 with Newcastle United, the gap has widened to eight points, and the Magpies are now only one point behind the champions.
City will take heart from their record of one away defeat in their last 25 games in the top flight and the fact that they haven’t lost their first game of the year since 2012 as they head to West London with no clean sheets to show for their last four Premier League games and just one in their last seven.
Just before the World Cup, Man City eliminated Chelsea from the EFL Cup by a score of 2-0. In the 2021–22 Premier League season, Guardiola’s team won both matches against Chelsea by a score of 1-0, getting some measure of retaliation for the Blues’ Champions League final loss in Porto.
1×2 Betting Odds
Although neither Potter nor Guardiola will make too much of City’s two-goal EFL Cup victory over Chelsea in November, it would not come as a complete surprise to see a similar score this week.
With Walker and Cancelo’s potential reintroduction, Chelsea now prepares for the difficult task of facing a Guardiola backline. The reorganised champions should get back to winning ways to serve as a reminder to Arsenal of their lingering presence!
Despite playing at home, this Chelsea side is not the favourites to win with market odds standing @ 5.75. playing against Man City is usually the toughest game of the Premier League in recent years! Chelsea would need a magic moment or two!
After watching Arsenal drop points, here is a chance for City and Pep to cut back the deficit to 5 points with league leaders Arsenal. The chase is on, and the odds that Man City will win at Stamford stands @ 1.68.
The possibility of a stalemate and points shared stands @ 4.37.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.86.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.15.
The betting market views this as a high scoring game because Man City and Chelsea both have the calibre to attack and attack well.
Man City are the favourites to win here but do expect Chelsea get on the scoresheet as well!
