Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has made four changes to his starting line-up for tonight's Barclays Premier League clash at Chelsea.

Only two players have scored more than one goal in their first two away Premier League appearances in London – Mark Robins in 1992 (for Norwich vs Arsenal and Chelsea) and Michu in 2012 (for Swansea vs QPR and Arsenal). [Kyle Walker](https://www.mancity.com/players/kyle-walker), Joao Cancelo and Phil [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) all come in for their first starts since the World Cup while Ilkay [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan) is recalled and captains the side. City have only lost one of their last 25 away Premier League matches (W18 D6), losing 1-0 to Liverpool in October. City have won their first Premier League game in each of the last 10 calendar years, since a 1-0 loss at Sunderland in 2012. [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) has seven goals in his six away Premier League appearances for City, netting twice in London in August against West Ham. Raheem Sterling scored 91 goals in 225 Premier League appearances for City between 2015 and 2022. [Pep Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola) has suffered eight defeats against Chelsea as a manager in all competitions, his joint-most against an opponent (also eight vs Liverpool). [Stones](https://www.mancity.com/players/john-stones) and Nathan [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake). [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez), [Palmer](https://www.mancity.com/players/cole-palmer), Lewis [Ederson](https://www.mancity.com/players/ederson), Walker, [Stones](https://www.mancity.com/players/john-stones), [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake), Cancelo, [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo), [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan) (c), [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne), [Bernardo](https://www.mancity.com/players/bernardo-silva), [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden), Haaland [Kyle Walker](https://www.mancity.com/players/kyle-walker) returns for his first Premier League since the Manchester Derby on October 2 and [Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola) is delighted to have him back. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) on the left and [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) at centre-forward trying to add to his incredible start.

Chelsea have been accused by Benfica's manager, Roger Schmidt, of 'disrespectful' behaviour in their pursuit of Enzo Fernández.

Benfica would like to keep the 21-year-old until the summer and Chelsea maintain they do not want to overpay and will walk away if a deal cannot be agreed. They try to get the player on their side and they know that they only can get this player when they pay the clause. What the club is doing who want to buy Enzo is disrespectful against all of us – against Benfica – and I cannot accept what they are doing. He is the third centre-half bought since the end of last season, after Kalidou Koulibaly and the injured Wesley Fofana. The reality for Chelsea is that the player would select Arsenal if presented with a choice between the London rivals. The club’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, are keen to improve Graham Potter’s squad after a disappointing run of form.

Man City · 31. de Moraes Ederson · 2. Kyle Walker · 5. John Stones · 6. Nathan Ake · 7. Cavaco Joao Cancelo · 17. Kevin De Bruyne · 16. Rodrigo Hernandez Rodri · 8.

He takes a touch and smashes a shot wide of the near post. Bernardo Silva beats Cucurella thrillingly on the right, not once but twice before pushing the ball back to De Bruyne on the edge of the area. Ederson comes miles out of his goal, doesn’t get the ball and is very relieved to see Akanji get to it before Havertz. [Chelsea](https://www.theguardian.com/football/chelsea) – and Arsenal. He might have pushed the ball out to an onrushing forward, Beast maybe, but that’s better than letting it roll behind you when somebody has an open goal. They’ve been fantastic in the second half. Kyle Walker got one point tonight, and I had Mitoma on the bench an’ all. “Meanwhile Cancelo, Walker and Foden all fighting over the magic sponge to valet his motor.” 85 min Chelsea have been much better in the last 20 minutes. The impressive Chukwuemeka ran half the length of the field before easing the ball outside to Hall on the left side of the area. City move to within five points of Arsenal after a hard-fought victory at Stamford Bridge. In previous years we’ve gone on big winning runs and we’ve got to keep the momentum going.

Chelsea will face Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in a crucial Premier League match on Thursday night. Chelsea have been struggling of late, losing three ...

City cannot allow any slip-ups, as they did against Everton when the Toffees scored their equalizer through a counter-attack. Kai Havertz is not particularly fast with the ball on his feet, but he will make City defenders job tougher by frequently moving to the flanks. Chelsea can also summon the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hakim Ziyech from the bench. With players like Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez at his disposal, he can make any side pay through changes made in the second half. Rico Lewis started as the right-back, but effectively shifted inside to play as a holding midfielder. Chelsea will face Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in a crucial Premier League match on Thursday night.

Mason Mount was left out of the Chelsea squad to face Man City in the Premier League on Thursday after taking a kick in training.

Sterling was swiftly followed by Christian Pulisic who also limped out of the game and was replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka. Mount was left out of the Chelsea XI to face Man City in the Premier League on Thursday after sustaining an injury. How do you replace N'Golo Kante?

Chelsea have completed the signing of Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile after he emerged as a target late in 2022 - but who is he?

[who only emerged as a potential transfer target in late December](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/chelsea-to-finalise-gbp34m-badiashile-transfer-monaco-agree-to-january-sale/bltf8f140285133b315). [Chelsea have bolstered their defensive ranks with the addition of young Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile](https://www.goal.com/en/news/chelsea-confirm-34m-badiashile-transfer-potter-bolsters-defensive-line/bltd7b9f4112a7610ff). The Blues' new ownership invested heavily in the backline in the summer, although the arrivals of Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella were to compensate for the losses of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso.