Chelsea FC 0-1 Manchester City LIVE! Premier League result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

Chelsea vs Manchester City - LIVE!

Riyad Mahrez came off the bench to score the only goal of the match as Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. After Arsenal’s goalless draw with Newcastle earlier in the week, the chance was there for Pep Guardiola’s side to cut the gap to the Gunners at the top, and they did just that as Mahrez moved them to within five points of the Premier League leaders.

Chelsea were forced into two changes before 20 minutes had been played at Stamford Bridge, Raheem Sterling forced off against his former club with an apparent hamstring injury before Christian Pulisic trudged off shortly afterwards. That did not dishearten the Blues though and they were the better side for much of the half.

City offered very little in the first-half but they flew out of the blocks and made a brilliant start to the second. The goal felt inevitable and it came just after the hour mark, City’s two changes in wide areas combining. Grealish played a brilliant first-time ball across the face of goal, and Mahrez was there at the back post for the simplest of finishes.

Chelsea vs Man City latest news

• GOAL! Mahrez gives Man City the lead

• OFF THE BAR! Ake goes close with header

• WOODWORK! Chukwuemeka strike hits the post

• Pulisic adds to Chelsea’s injury woes

• Sterling forced off in opening minutes

Chelsea FC 0 - 1 Manchester City FC

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23:15 , Matt Verri

Chelsea manager Graham Potter showed the strength of his personality against Manchester City by taking off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, himself a substitute, for an 18-year old-debutant.

The 33-year-old striker has struggled for minutes under Potter in recent weeks but got his chance after Raheem Sterling was injured in the first couple of minutes of the match.

An anonymous outing saw him touch the ball just once in the opposition’s box and 14 times overall.

Potter has been gentle, mild-mannered and relaxed in the face of poor performances and bad body language but he cracked here, taking off the Gabon international to give Omari Hutchinson his debut.

Read Nizaar Kinsella’s full analysis here

Guardiola’s post-match thoughts

22:30 , Matt Verri

“In the second half we were miles, miles better in every department. It’s a big result for us.

“Riyad [Mahrez] I knew the space would be there for him. He’s good one-on-one in the final third. John Stones he played extraordinary in the World Cup and he can adapt perfectly with three or out wide. He is playing at the best level, maybe for the first time in seven years since we arrived together. When he is playing like this it’s so good.

“Grealish’s body language is exceptional if he plays or doesn’t play. These type of guys always play good. He was really good defensively too.”

Player ratings

22:17 , Matt Verri

Thiago Silva - 7

Impressively caged Erling Haaland in the first half alongside his defensive partner. It was subtle, unremarkable but brilliant.

Kalidou Koulibaly - 7

Similar to his partner for the first half and he was probably the least at fault for the goal.

Marc Cucurella - 5

The left-back was targeted in the first half but, to his credit, it didn’t work. He resisted a joint effort from Bernando Silva and Joao Cancelo to expose him as a weakness with them both getting substituted before the hour mark. Mahrez escaped his marking to score late on.

Read our full Chelsea ratings here

22:05 , Matt Verri

So Manchester City now only five points behind Arsenal, and four clear of Newcastle in second with a game in hand.

Problems continue for Chelsea, tenth in the table and ten points off the top four. They’re as close to the relegation zone as they are the Champions League spots.

Watch: Mahrez with only goal of the match

21:58 , Matt Verri

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

21:56 , Matt Verri

An excellent, fascinating match. Chelsea showed they were a good, committed team but come away with nothing after Guardiola’s subs combine.

A benchmark display but then Chelsea remain in tenth and 10 points behind the top four teams.

FT: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City

21:52 , Matt Verri

City get the job done and close the gap to Arsenal to five points!

Mahrez’s tap-in enough for the visitors, who really only clicked into gear for about 20 minutes but that’s all it took.

Chelsea with a decent enough display, particularly considering the injury problems, but their problems in front of goal remain.

21:50 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Take it all back.

It really opens up for Chelsea, they’ve got a five-on-three as they break. Comes to Hall on the left of the box, massive chance for the full-back but he hammers the strike over the bar.

21:49 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Four minutes added on, still time for Chelsea.

Hall has been so impressive since coming on, really direct with his running at left-back. Deserves more opportunities judging by this showing.

21:46 , Matt Verri

88 mins: City haven’t had an attack since they scored, really have just sat off. Chelsea haven’t been able to make the most of their possession though.

Giving it to Gallagher looks to be the hosts’ best chance, chaos is following him around.

21:44 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Phillips is going to get a rare City appearance, Guardiola clearly satisfied with his body tonight.

Plenty of last-minute instructions from the City boss - wouldn’t say the midfielder appears to be taking them all in. Rodri trudges off to be replaced.

21:42 , Matt Verri

83 mins: Here we go again, Gallagher clashing with Akanji this time. Or rather throws himself to the ground in the vague presence of Akanji.

Referee with very little interest in that.

21:39 , Matt Verri

81 mins: Gallagher is buzzing around the pitch, Stones once again on the receiving end of a robust challenge. Chelsea man is going for the one-man press.

The home fans appreciate it, but he could do with a bit more support from his team-mates.

21:37 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Gallagher is a very frustrated man out there. A yellow card is not far away.

Late on Stones, just barges the centre-back over. Only a word from the referee this time... won’t be next time!

21:35 , Matt Verri

76 mins: Chelsea don’t really look like finding an equaliser, City with no significant interest in finding a second goal it appears.

They’ve eased right off since taking the lead, backing themselves to hold on to what they have.

Rodri perhaps fortunate to avoid a yellow card, brings down Gallagher fairly cynically. The Chelsea man then bundles a City player over in his attempts to get the ball back.

21:31 , Matt Verri

73 mins: Great ball across the six-yard box from De Bruyne, Kepa doesn’t deal with it and Haaland comes flying in at the back post.

Gets the slightest of touches, not enough to divert it into the empty net though.

21:29 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Hutchinson inside to Kovacic, he cuts onto his left foot and it’s worked out wide to Hall.

Chelsea forced all the way back to the halfway line though, City look really solid in their shape.

21:26 , Matt Verri

68 mins: City have eased off the relentless pace they were setting, happy to sit back a bit more now and let Chelsea have it at the back. They’ll just pick their moments on the break now.

Triple Chelsea change! Aubameyang, Cucurella and Ziyech off, Hutchinson, Hall and Gallagher all come on.

Aubameyang, himself brought on early in the first-half, is not thrilled.

21:24 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Chelsea have found it hard enough to just get out of their half since the break.

They’ve got to find a goal now - how brave do they want to be?

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City | Riyad Mahrez 63'

21:22 , Matt Verri

Cucurella is having a fairly miserable time at left-back. Can’t cope whenever someone runs at him. Mahrez just flies past him, eventually crowded out in the box.

City stay on the attack, Grealish on the left plays a ball across the face of goal and Mahrez is there at the back post for a tap-in! It’s been coming.

21:20 , Matt Verri

61 mins: What on earth is Ederson doing! It’s like he just got bored.

Ball is played through to Havertz, he’s in a foot race and suddenly Ederson appears 50 yards off his line. Never getting near the ball, luckily for him his defenders do the job.

At the other end De Bruyne stands a cross up to the back post, Haaland can’t get there.

21:17 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Good ball out to Silva, who is having far more joy now he’s playing out on the right.

He skips past Cucurella, lays it back to De Bruyne and it’s smashed wide by the Belgian. He’s had a fair few chances tonight.

And that’s the end of Silva’s night, Mahrez is off. Grealish on too as Foden is replaced.

21:14 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Chelsea need a couple of minutes of possession, just to calm things down a bit.

Kovacic gives them that, playing it wide to Havertz who finds Ziyech. Low cross into the box is turned behind by Akanji. Better from Chelsea.

Initial corner cleared, put back in and Havertz is free at the back post. Terrible touch, turns out to be a good pass for Silva and he lashes an effort wide.

21:11 , Matt Verri

53 mins: City win it back high up the pitch, Kepa down quickly to keep out De Bruyne’s strike.

Chelsea with a rare chance to launch an attack of their own, Ziyech loses it though and Azpilicueta then gives away a needless free-kick.

21:09 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Chelsea hanging on for dear life. De Bruyne swings the cross in, Ake heads it off the bar and Silva’s effort from the rebound is deflected behind! Relentless pressure.

Back in from De Bruyne, too much on the ball this time and Chelsea can slow things down.

21:08 , Matt Verri

50 mins: Azpilicueta drags Foden back as the English man beats him out wide, that will be a free-kick in a great position. Does De Bruyne try his luck from a tight angle?

Fires it low at the near post, Azpilicueta is there to put it behind for a corner.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

21:07 , Matt Verri

Pep Guardiola takes at least one player off at half-time for the sixth time this season... this time it is an admission of Chelsea’s dominance.

21:06 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Ball falls for Haaland, 20 yards out and he hammers an effort at goal. Dragged wide.

Already feels like this is going to be a really difficult half for Chelsea.

21:05 , Matt Verri

47 mins: All City since the break, with Lewis moving into midfield and getting plenty of the ball. Much more like it from Guardiola’s side.

Silva playing wide on the right now, he plays it back to De Bruyne who takes a very heavy touch and loses it.

Back underway!

21:03 , Matt Verri

Up and running again at Stamford Bridge. Two changes from City at the break - Akanji and Lewis on for Cancelo and Walker.

21:00 , Matt Verri

Man City with five shots in the opening 45 minutes, most of those coming just before the break. 54% possession for the visitors too.

A shot on target for each side, with neither having a huge amount in the way of clear-cut chances.

First goal, as ever, absolutely massive. Doesn’t feel like a game where there will be more than one or two at most.

As close as either side came!

20:57 , Matt Verri

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

20:52 , Matt Verri

Chukwuemeka has had an excellent impact since coming on. Still just 19 years old and just the 33 career appearances so far.

HT: Chelsea 0-0 Man City

20:49 , Matt Verri

Goalless at half-time, in a match that started to burst into life in the last ten minutes.

Sterling and Pulisic forced off early for Chelsea but they’ve responded well, probably the better side for much of the 45 minutes. Chukwuemeka unfortunate not to give them the lead.

Improvement needed from City.

20:47 , Matt Verri

45+1 mins: Two minutes added on - not much considering the two injuries.

De Bruyne again lets fly from distance, this time it’s deflected behind for a corner. Apparently not, offside flag goes up as Foden stuck out a leg in the middle.

20:45 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Chelsea hit the post! Chukwuemeka drifts inside, shot from just outside the box beats Ederson but bounces back off the inside of the post.

So composed from Stones to mop up the danger and De Bruyne charges away on the counter. Loses it once but comes back to him, and he fires an effort straight at Kepa.

20:43 , Matt Verri

42 mins: De Bruyne is having a poor game so far - not words you’ll often see. Again gives it away under no pressure.

A couple of dangerous crosses sent into the City box, Ederson able to claim the second of them.

20:41 , Matt Verri

40 mins: Space is starting to open up for City, this time De Bruyne has time to look up.

Cancelo completely free to his right, underhits the pass though and that gives Cucurella time to get across and win the ball, before earning the free-kick. Really good from the left-back.

20:39 , Matt Verri

38 mins: There is Haaland... and he should score.

Gundogan has space in the number ten position, slides a pass through to Haaland and he’s in. Koulibaly can’t get across in time as Haaland gets a shot away, lifted well over the bar.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

20:37 , Matt Verri

Chelsea have impressively stopped Erling Haaland from having any impact on this game. They’ve stopped any kinds of transitions that might give him a head start on his ageing opponents.

Meanwhile, both Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly have used their vast experience to lock him down.

20:36 , Matt Verri

35 mins: Aubameyang makes the run through the middle as Chelsea charge forward on the counter, Havertz opts not to play the pass and turns back instead. Home fans not overly impressed.

Space is there for the Blues on the break, with Rodri leaving Stones as the sole centre-back.

20:33 , Matt Verri

33 mins: Visitors starting to push Chelsea back a bit.

De Bruyne looks to lay it off for Haaland, runs through to Gundogan instead and he curls an effort wide of the far post. Kepa always fairly confident with that one.

20:32 , Matt Verri

31 mins: City have really given up on a recognisable formation. Rodri is playing as a number ten all of a sudden, Gundogan wide on the left.

Cancelo clips a cross in, Koulibaly sticks a leg out and fortunately for him the ball loops up for Kepa.

20:30 , Matt Verri

29 mins: Ziyech takes this too, goes for maximum pace and Haaland is there in the six-yard box to clear.

Koulibaly then fouls Cancelo and City can regain control. Chelsea have had 76% of the ball in the last ten minutes, well on top.

20:29 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Here come Chelsea again, Azpilicueta forward on the right and he wins a corner as Rodri is dragged over.

Ziyech swings it in, Rodri heads it away but the midfielder undoes all that good work when he charges out and fouls Ziyech for no apparent reason. Good position this for the hosts.

20:27 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Chelsea having a good spell here, they look the more dangerous in the final third.

Zakaria looks to lift a cross into the box, can’t get enough loft on it. City look to break as the ball breaks free, Kovacic does really well to beat Silva to it.

20:25 , Matt Verri

24 mins: Koulibaly off quickly for a change of boots.

That allows Chelsea to make their change at last, Chukwuemeka is on to replace Pulisic. Chelsea now have only one more opportunity, aside from half-time, to make a change.

Chelsea threaten to open the scoring, as Chukwuemeka has a shot blocked before Ederson denies Ziyech.

20:22 , Matt Verri

21 mins: Chelsea currently down to ten as De Bruyne breaks on the right, cross towards Haaland is cut out. The City forward has not had a single touch yet.

Ah here we go, he’s off the mark after holding the ball up in the corner.

Was eyeing a second from Cancelo’s cross, but Kepa off his line to claim it.

20:20 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Now Pulisic has gone down, looks to have hurt himself in that challenge from Stones.

Not looking comfortable at all, but he’s back on his feet and trying to run it off. Or not - he’s given up on that and admitted defeat.

Chelsea’s injury list is getting longer by the minute.

20:17 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Brilliant challenge fron Stones!

City caught on the ball and Cucurella pounces to launch the counter. He plays it inside to Havertz, slid through to Pulisic and his shot is blocked behind as Stones comes flying in when the American looked certain to score.

Resulting corner doesn’t beat De Bruyne at the near post.

20:15 , Matt Verri

14 mins: Not a huge amount of action at either end so far.

City with lots of the ball, but they haven’t looked particularly dangerous with this shape. This is a bit more like it as Gundogan makes the run in behind, cut back is too close to Kepa though and he can claim.

20:12 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Pretty much all of City’s attacks are coming down the right, Cancelo playing in that more advanced role.

He looks to drift inside, overruns it though and Chelsea hack it clear. Haaland has made a few runs up front, but he hasn’t had a touch yet.

20:10 , Matt Verri

9 mins: That’s better from Chelsea, working it nicely down the left as Zakaria plays it wide to Cucurella.

He looks to put it in early for Aubameyang who had started to make a run to the near post, cross isn’t the best though and it’s straight out of play.

20:08 , Matt Verri

7 mins: Rodri is actually playing defence and midfield, pushing up when City are in possession to leave Stones as the only centre-back. Having one position clearly too boring for him.

Chelsea struggling to get any sort of possession going, visitors dominating the ball as you’d expect.

20:06 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Looked to be his hamstring being stretched out - Sterling is going off. His night is over already.

It’s Aubameyang coming on, quickly being given some instructions but there’s not really any time for that!

20:03 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Well then, it’s Rodri at centre-back for Man City, a role he played at the World Cup for Spain. Ake at left-back, Walker at right-back and Cancelo ahead of him on the wing. Silva in a roaming role in midfield.

Here comes Ake on the left, opts to turn all the way back though.

And Sterling is down off the ball, play stopped. This would be an absolute disaster for Chelsea.

KICK-OFF!

20:01 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running in west London!

Minute’s applause

20:00 , Matt Verri

Tributes paid to Pele ahead of kick-off, with this being Chelsea’s first home match since his death.

Here we go!

19:56 , Matt Verri

Teams are out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Home fans are right up for it as you’d expect - the Chelsea players need to ensure that remains the case.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:51 , Matt Verri

It was a good cameo against Forest by Ziyech. He looked like the only one capable of winning that match late on.

Let’s see if his heroic World Cup can drive some Chelsea form.

Potter on Mount injury

19:47 , Matt Verri

“It never rains but it pours. Since the last home game, we’ve lost Reece James and Mason. It’s one of those things and that’s one of the challenges since we’ve been here.”

“What it does is give opportunities for other players, so that’s the positive and we’re looking forward to that.”

New signing is here!

19:44 , Matt Verri

Chelsea earlier today confirmed the signing of Benoit Badiashile on a seven-and-a-half-year contract from Monaco, and he is at Stamford Bridge this evening.

The defender has arrived in a deal worth around £33million.

“I’m very happy to be here at Chelsea. I’m so excited to start playing for this club. I can’t wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the world,” Badiashile said.

Guardiola on title race

19:41 , Matt Verri

Pep Guardiola is relatively relaxed about Manchester City’s position in the title race, despite Arsenal currently leading the way by eight points.

“We would prefer to be eight points in front, that is the reality,” Guardiola tells Sky Sports.

“But, I have the feeling, when you’ve won four Premier Leagues in the last five years, that it is not normal to be eight points clear with this competition and all the top teams that we have.

“We try to be there close, and there is a lot of games still to play. We’ll try to maintain our playing level and get a good run of victories.”

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:37 , Matt Verri

Chelsea now have eight players out injured after Mason Mount got a knock in training. It is very rare for the midfielder to miss any matches.

It only highlights what an issue fitness is at the moment.

Worst in the league

19:33 , Matt Verri

Since Potter took charge, Chelsea rank 20th in the Premier League for shots and shots on target at home. An absolutely crazy statistic.

They’re 18th for goals scored on home soil, so not exactly much better. Pretty clear that Potter has to find some answers to the problems Chelsea are experiencing in forward areas.

Potter’s pre-match thoughts

19:28 , Matt Verri

“You have to be stable, that helps. The situation we came into was quite extreme, in terms of the amount of games we had with the Champions League, and then we had injuries to key players.

“In the end you are trying to find a solution: How do you replace Reece James? How do you replace N’Golo Kante? How do you replace Wesley Fofana? These are guys that are key players for us. I don’t want to make excuses, it sounds like them. We need stability and we are working towards that.

“We need to be consistent with the shape and try and be consistent with the players we have. We’ve lost James and Mason Mount since our last home game. That is just the life you have as a football manager. That affects consistency.”

Warm-up time!

19:21 , Matt Verri

Toughest test at worst possible time

19:16 , Matt Verri

Chelsea face a double-header against Manchester City at their worst moment of the season, writes Nizaar Kinsella.

The Blues will kick-off at Stamford Bridge tonight 10 points off the top four, 19 behind leaders Arsenal and down in 10th place. It follows a poor run of just one win in seven Premier League games — and patience is wearing thin among frustrated supporters.

Manager Graham Potter met Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali in California during the World Cup, when he was assured of his long-term future.

After Chelsea paid Brighton £20million in compensation to hire him in September, there is no reason to believe Potter is in immediate danger of losing his job, but defeat tonight would be another blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four.

Read our full match preview here

Mount out with injury

19:10 , Matt Verri

Mount is absent for Chelsea tonight, after picking up a knock in training that ruled him out of the match.

Kovacic partners Zakaria in midfield, while Ziyech makes his first Premier League start since Potter took charge at Stamford Bridge.

As for Man City, Cancelo and Foden return to the starting XI, while Walker starts in his place of Lewis and Silva seemingly lines up in the front three.

Ake partners Stones at centre-back, with neither Laporte or Dias making the squad.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:05 , Matt Verri

Credit to Denis Zakaria who hadn’t played a single minute of Premier League action since joining Chelsea before the World Cup. He has started every game after the World Cup.

Man City team news

19:03 , Matt Verri

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Haaland, Foden

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Grealish, Alvarez, Gomez, Akanji, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis.

Chelsea team news

19:02 , Matt Verri

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Silva, Cucurella; Zakaria, Kovacic; Ziyech, Pulisic; Havertz, Sterling

Subs: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Humphreys, Hall, Jorginho, Gallagher Chukwuemeka, Hutchinson, Aubameyang

Brace yourselves...

18:54 , Matt Verri

Team news coming up very shortly.

Potter with a few decisions to make, and there’s usually no point even trying to guess what Guardiola will do.

Sounds like Foden and Cancelo might be starting for Man City, but we will soon know for sure.

Guardiola: We have to be almost perfect

18:49 , Matt Verri

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have to be “almost perfect” if they are to win the Premier League this season.

Ahead of his side’s trip to Stamford Bridge, Guardiola admitted his side are relying on Arsenal cooling off if they are to close the gap.

“The way you have to reduce the gap is play good and win games,” the Man City boss said.

“(Arsenal) have an average that they will do more than 100 points the way they have done so far.

“If they continue in that way, we will not catch them. We have to be almost perfect from here and hope they drop their performance - they were excellent against Newcastle - and see what happens.”

Hosts have arrived!

18:43 , Matt Verri

Chelsea in a real battle

18:38 , Matt Verri

As mentioned, Chelsea with plenty of ground to make up if they’re to get into the top four.

Manchester City and Arsenal look certainties, with Newcastle continuing to impress and Manchester United in fine form. Then there’s the small matter of Liverpool, who will surely improve at some point, and Tottenham who could click into gear.

To finish in the top four - latest odds:

Man Utd: 4/6

Liverpool: 4/5

Newcastle: Evens

Tottenham: 23/10

Chelsea: 9/2

Odds via Betfair.

How it stands...

18:32 , Matt Verri

Manchester City are currently eight points behind Arsenal, though the Gunners have played a game more. Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to cut into that gap tonight.

As for Chelsea, they now sit tenth in the Premier League, with Fulham and Brentford among those above them.

The Blues can go up to seventh with a win though, and would still have a game in hand on many around them. They’re currently ten points behind Manchester United in fourth, having played a game fewer.

Potter on Guardiola chat

18:24 , Matt Verri

Graham Potter has spoken about a five-minute chat with Pep Guardiola following Chelsea’s last match against Manchester City in November.

After Chelsea lost 2-0 to City in the Carabao Cup in November, Potter and Guardiola had a conversation and the Blues boss has explained what was said.

“He understands the challenges we have here and he is facing similar ones himself,” Potter said. “It was just a conversation after a game that you have.

“I spoke with Steve [Cooper] after the game [against Nottingham Forest] and it was a similar conversation. It’s nice the managers can speak because it’s complicated when you’re on the touchline, there are emotions and we’re fighting for the points.

“But after it is nice to speak and talk about the game.”

Big night under the lights!

18:18 , Matt Verri

How Chelsea twice missed out on Haaland

18:11 , Matt Verri

Had things worked out differently, Erling Haaland would be lining up for Chelsea against Manchester City when the two teams meet at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Haaland will be looking to continue his brilliant goalscoring season as City hunt down leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

But had Chelsea had their way, the Norwegian striker would be playing for them. The Blues twice missed out on signing Haaland, first in 2019 when Frank Lampard was manager and then again in 2021 when Thomas Tuchel was in charge.

Read the full story on that here!

Prediction

18:04 , Matt Verri

Chelsea have drawn two, lost two against sides in the top six this season and look vulnerable to another beating here.

There are certainly some cracks in City’s armour, but they should have enough to come out on top in west London.

A 1-0 City win.

How they could line up...

17:59 , Matt Verri

Predicted Chelsea XI (3-4-3): Kepa; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly; Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Jorginho, Cucurella; Pulisic, Havertz, Mount.

Predicted Man City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Silva, Haaland, Foden.

Man City team news

17:51 , Matt Verri

Julian Alvarez is back in City training after the World Cup final so is in contention for tonight’s clash.

Aymeric Laporte (back) is a doubt with Ruben Dias (hamstring) injured, however.

Chelsea team news

17:45 , Matt Verri

There is little sign of Chelsea’s injury list getting any shorter for this game.

N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Reece James (knee), Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (leg), Wesley Fofana (knee) and Armando Broja (knee) are set to miss out but Edouard Mendy is nearing a return from a shoulder issue.

How to watch Chelsea vs Man City

17:36 , Matt Verri

TV channel: In the UK, the match will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, with coverage starting at 6.30pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the game live online via the Sky go app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action right here, with expert analysis from Nizaar Kinsella at the ground.

Good evening!

17:28 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Manchester City!

Huge match tonight at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea needing a positive result to lift their spirits and Man City looking to close the gap to Arsenal.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm GMT from Stamford Bridge. Stay tuned!