Manchester City vs Chelsea prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2026-01-03 17:30.
[p]A new era dawns for Chelsea, who travel to face title-chasing Manchester City without a manager after Enzo Maresca’s surprise departure in midweek. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Manchester City slipped four points off the title pace on New Year’s Day when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Sunderland, although boss Pep Guardiola strangely insisted afterwards that he was pleased with the point his side had collected. That goalless stalemate ended City’s six-match winning league run, but there’s every chance they get back in the win column at the Etihad, where City have won their last eight top-flight games. Scoring 3+ goals in seven of those outings underlines how dangerous City tend to be on home soil, and considering they’ve won all four of their home games against sides in the pre-round top eight to nil, they don’t tend to let up against the league’s big hitters either. [/p]
[p]There’s an interesting sub-plot to this game for Chelsea, after their now-departed boss Maresca reportedly left Stamford Bridge after telling the club’s hierarchy that he’d held talks with City about possibly replacing Guardiola in the near future. He’ll be nothing more than an interested spectator here as U21’s boss Calum McFarlane takes caretaker charge of Chelsea, with his first task to try and improve upon a run of one win in seven Premier League games (D4, L2). That’ll be no mean feat for him, not only given the calibre of opposition, but also owing to the fact that Chelsea have won their first league game in just one of the last nine calendar years (D6, L2).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]City are unbeaten in the last eight Premier League H2Hs (W6, D2), their joint-longest run without defeat against Chelsea in their league history.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]City have led a league-high 12 Premier League games at the break this season (HT: D5, L2). [/p]
[p]City’s home league games this term have averaged 3.44 total goals. [/p]
[p]Chelsea have conceded eight of their ten away league goals this season before half-time. [/p]
[p]Chelsea haven’t been outscored after half-time in an away league game this season (2H: W6, D3).[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]City’s Phil Foden scored in last season’s corresponding fixture which, like four of his last five club strikes, arrived after half-time. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is a product of the City academy, but if he’s to haunt his former employers, he’ll have to score a Premier League goal north of London for the first time since August 2024.[/p]
[p]City lost both Savinho and Nico González to injuries against Sunderland. Chelsea will be without the suspended Moisés Caicedo, while they also sweat on the fitness of Marc Cucurella.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With Chelsea in turmoil of late, we’re backing a City -1 handicap win.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]