Samir Nasri back in training and could be on bench
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 31st January 2015
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Mark Clattenburg Assistants: S Beck, J Collin Fourth Official: J Moss
Odds: Chelsea 6/5, Draw 13/5, Manchester City 11/4
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports 1
Chelsea
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Squad (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Salah, Willian, Drogba, Remy, Schurrle, Solanke.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Fabregas, Filipe, Ivanovic
Suspended: Costa
Form guide: WWLDWW
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko, Jovetic
Injured: None
Doubtful: Mangala, Nasri
Suspended: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: LDWDWW
Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony are absent again due to the Ivory Coast's ongoing participation in the African Cup of Nations. Samir Nasri, however, could be in contention after recovering from a groin injury, whilst Eliaquim Mangala is a minor doubt according to manager Mauel Pellegrini.
"Samir Nasri is coming back, I'm not sure if he's a 100 per cent. We will see with the doctor but he worked the last two days with the squad," Pellegrini said.
"Mangala had a little problem with his shoulder today we will see tomorrow. They're the only two problems I have."
The match has been billed as a "title decider" by some, but Pellegrini was keen to play down the significance of the game
"It's a very important game, it's not the game that will decide the title because after that we have to play for 45 more points," he continued.
"If you remember from years ago this club won the title being eight points behind United. In football you never know but it's a very important game and it's important for us to close that gap as soon as we can."
City's last away game at Stamford Bridge ended in 2-1, with Sergio Aguero scoring for City, before a late calamitous mix-up between Joe Hart and Matija Nastasic gifted Fernando Torres the winner. Overall City have won 50 of the 151 games played against Chelsea, with 38 draws and 63 defeats.
Read the views of Chelsea fan Denise here.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 Manchester City 1