A look ahead at Sunday's game at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Date: 4.00pm Sunday 27th October 2013
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Howard Webb. Assistants: D Cann, S Ledger. Fourth Official: C Foy.
Odds: Chelsea 11/8, Manchester City 11/5, Draw 12/5
Tickets: Still available.
Chelsea
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Squad (from): Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Essien, Ramires, Lampard, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Hazard, Ba, Willian, Schwarzer, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Eto'o, Bertrand
Injured: Van Ginkel
Doubtful: Cole
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWDWLD
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Lescott, Nastasic, Richards, Zabaleta, Garcia, Fernandinho, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Rodwell, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko, Guidetti, Jovetic, Negredo
Injured:Kompany
Doubtful: Demichelis
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWLWDW
City face their third consecutive away game on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, with a trip to Newcastle still to come the following Wednesday. The Blues have coped well so far on what is a difficult run of fixtures, with back to back wins at West Ham and CKSA Moscow, and go into the game with renewed confidence.
Vincent Kompany, however, has once again been ruled out and Manuel Pellegrini faces a difficult choice as to who will partner Matija Nastasic at centre half. Javi Garcia has played the previous two games without ever looking entirely comfortable, whilst Martin Demichelis is lacking match fitness following a knee injury. Joleon Lescott would be the obvious replacement, but Pellegrini doesn't appear to favour two left footed centre halves. Micah Richards and Dedryck Boyata are the other alternatives.
Chelsea have a formidable record at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho, having never lost at home during his two spells in charge. Recent victories over Norwich, Cardiff and Schalke have seen a return to form for Mourinho's side following a stuttering start. A brace for Fernando Torres in Gelsenkirchen will lift his confidence, although Samuel Eto'o may be restored to the starting line-up.
Dutchman Marco van Ginkel is the only long term absentee after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, but Ashley Cole is expected to have recovered from a rib injury in time to face City.
City's last league game at Stamford Bridge ended in a 0-0 draw, but the Blues are unbeaten in their last five games against the West Londoners in all competitions. Overall the Blues have won 49 of the 147 games played against Chelsea, with 37 draws and 61 defeats.
Read the views of two Chelsea bloggers here.
Prediction: Chelsea 1 Manchester City 1