Brazilian winger expected to be sidelined after sustaining injury at Sunderland
Manchester City vs Chelsea
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 5.30pm, Sunday 4th January 2026
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, N Greenhalgh Fourth Official: S Hooper VAR: D England
Odds: City 8/13, Draw 10/3, Chelsea 7/2
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Donnarumma, Trafford, Bettinelli, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Lewis, Reijnders, Cherki, Gonzalez, Rodri, Silva, Nunes, O'Reilly, Foden, Mukasa, Haaland, Doku, McAidoo, J Heskey, R Heskey
Injured: Kovacic, Stones, Bobb, Savinho
Doubtful: Gonzalez
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Marmoush, Ait-Nouri (AFCON)
Form guide: DWWWW
Chelsea
Manager: Calum McFarlane (temporary)
Squad (from): Sanchez, Jorgensen, Slonina, Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Hato, Chalobah, James, Gusto, Fofana, Acheampong, Fernandez, Palmer, Santos, Buonatorre, Lavia, Neto, Delpa, Gittens, Pedro, George, Guiu, Estevao, Garnacho
Injured: Colwill, Essugo
Doubtful: Cucarella, Lavia, Hato
Suspended: Mudryk, Caicedo
Form guide: DLDWW
City will be without Savinho for the visit of Chelsea on Sunday evening. The Brazilian winger sustained an injury during the goalless draw against Sunderland, and joins Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, and Oscar Bobb on the sidelines.
Nico Gonzalez is also a doubt after picking up a knock at the Stadium of Light, whilst Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are still away with their respctive national for the African Cup of Nations.
“In this period to have two games away is so demanding,” Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.
“You know, Christmas times always happen and it has been a tough two games at Nottingham Forest and [at Sunderland], so yeah, we have to see.
“[There’s] not much time. We’ll see what happened. Rodri is back and Jeremy - both have come from long, long injuries. So we have to be careful.
“[I will] talk with the doctors, with the physios and we will see. We miss Savinho, but yeah, more difficulties and the more stronger we will be.”
City won their last home game against Chelsea 3-1, with Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden scoring for the Blues. Overall City have won 68 of the 180 games played against Chelsea, with 41 draws and 71 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Gonzalez, Silva, Foden, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Score prediction: City 2 Chelsea 1