Guardiola hails "excellent" job being done by Maurizio Sarri
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 8th December 2018
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, S Bennett Fourth Official: A Mariner
Odds: Chelsea 3/1, Draw 11/4, City 10/11
Tickets: Sold out
TV: BT Sport
Chelsea
Manager: Maurizio Sarri
Squad (from): Kepa, Caballero, Green, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso, Zappacosta, Cahill, Ampadu, Christensen, Emerson, Moses, Fabregas, Jorginho, Barkley, Drinkwater, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Morata, Giroud
Injured: van Ginkel
Doubtful: Barkley
Suspended: None
Form guide: DLWWL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Laporte, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, Zinchenko, Delph, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, Sane, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Jesus
Injured: De Bruyne, Bravo, Mendy, ?Aguero, ?
Doubtful: Zinchenko
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWDWW
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge through injury, although manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that both players are nearing a return.
Chelsea made an impressive start to the season under new manager Maurizio Sarri, but have struggled a little of late, losing two of their last three league games. Guardiola, however, is an admirer of the Italian.
"The job he is doing is excellent. People don’t know how hard it is to create a style. He is going to do that.
"In pre-season when we played in the Community Shield, it was there. The team already played like he wants.
"He needs time. Maybe they don’t play for 90 minutes but for 55, 60, 75 minutes they are excellent.”
City's last away game at Stamford Bridge ended in a 1-0 victory, with Kevin De Bruyne netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 55 of the 160 games played against Chelsea, with 39 draws and 66 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Delph, Fernandinho, D Silva, B Silva, Sterling, Sane, Jesus
Score prediction: Chelsea 1 City 1