English Premier League: Manchester City vs Chelsea Preview
Sir Alex Ferguson said ahead of the Manchester City and Chelsea clash that the Blues would face their first real challenge this season. He believed Ancelotti’s side had had easy opening fixtures which had seen the Champions start their title defense with a
100 percent record after the first five opening fixtures.
Chelsea destroyed West Brom, Wigan, Stoke City, West Ham and recently Blackpool to maintain their lead at the top of the table with an impressive 20 goals. The Blues have been in fine scoring form, with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka,
Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard all contributing.
But it is against Manchester City that Chelsea face their real test, since City completed the double over the Blues last season. Chelsea won their first double, the English Premier League and the FA Cup and striker Drogba won the
golden boot and the Blues finished with a total of 103 goals, but they could not defeat Manchester City. The fixture will be seen by many as Roman Abramovich taking on the ambitious billionaires at City.
The owners at Manchester City spent big over the summer, but even that did not guarantee good results. City got off to a shaky start, drawing their opening game and not seeming very convincing in their wins. An inside source revealed
that Sheikh Mansour, the Manchester City owner, is considering replacing manager Roberto Mancini if the desired results are not achieved. This will give Mancini more motivation to grab a win against the Champions today.
Both sides face injury problems going into the fixture. Mancini has trouble in defense as Aleksander Kolarov, Jerome Boateng, Micah Richards and Wayne Bridge are all sidelined. Pablo Zabaleta plays at the left, but due to the many
missing players, he may have to switch to the right and fill in for Richards, who is most likely to not recover for the match today. James Milner could have to make a start as left back, which gives new signing David Silva to start in midfield.
Chelsea also have essential players missing for the City clash, and Ancelotti will put forward a side different from the one which lost to Newcastle United in the Carling Cup fixture. The younger, inexperienced side lost out to Newcastle
at Stamford Bridge in a dramatic match, which was decided in extra time. Ancelotti played down the defeat but will present a stronger squad today.
Ancelotti will most likely start off with Didier Drogba, Anelka and Florent Malouda. Unfortunately for the Blues, start midfielder Frank Lampard will not be available. The England international was expected to return for this clash,
but has still not recovered from his hernia surgery and will be further rested. Ancelotti revealed that he was not willing to risk playing such an important player unless he was fully fit. Ancelotti will also have to make do without Yossi Benayoun and Kalou,
both of whom were injured in the Newcastle Carling Cup fixture.
Here are some interesting facts going into the match, Chelsea have won at the Eastland’s more than any other Premier League side, a total of ten times. The Blues have scored with only 27 percent of their shots, which is a league high
in terms of goal conversion rate. The player to watch for Chelsea is Florent Malouda; the Frenchman has scored six goals in four Premier League starts this season. For Manchester City, Carlos Tevez will be the man to watch. The City striker has scored five
goals in his last four appearances against the Blues.
Possible starting XIs:
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, K Toure, Kompany, Milner, Y Toure, De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Tevez, Silva.
Substitutes: Given, Jô, Boyata, Vieira, A Johnson, Ibrahim, Cunningham, Adebayor, Lescott.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Essien, Ramires, Mikel, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka.
Substitutes: Turnbull, Hílario, Bruma, Kakuta, Zhirkov, Sturridge, Bosingwa, Van Aanholt, Borini.
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