The eyes of the nation will turn to the Etihad Stadium on Monday night as Manchester City entertain Chelsea in a massive title clash certain to figure largely in the ultimate destination of the coveted Premier League crown. The sides currently sit 1ˢᵗ and 3ʳᵈ respectively, with 3 points between them.










The corresponding fixture last year ended dourly for the Blues. After Frank Lampard missed a penalty kick and the chance to put his side 1-0 up after just over 50 minutes gone, City struck twice through Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez to sink Rafa Benitez's poor side to abject defeat.










The reverse fixture in October, however, was a fiercely-contested, well-fought affair decided by a late goal. Chelsea were in control for most of the early proceedings and missed 3 sitters to take a commanding lead over Manuel Pellegrini's men early on, but finally did break through just over half an hour in through André Schürrle, who tapped home an impeccably placed pass from Fernando Torres after a decisive show of skill from the Spaniard surging down the right wing leaving Gael Clichy for dead to open the Blues' account. City equalised just 4 minutes after the interval, and the game remained 1-1 approaching the end of normal time and appeared to be heading for a stalemate. A monumental cock-up at the back, however, involving a mix-up between centre-half Matija Nastasic an goalkeeper Joe Hart gifted a golden chance for Torres to put his name in lights at the death, and the striker didn't disappoint, placing the ball in the back of the net to hand Chelsea a crucial 3 points against their title rivals and send José Mourinho leaping into the stands to celebrate the dramatic, last-gasp victory with his son.










The sides go into this match in very relatable veins of form. Both, along with Arsenal, have been the Premier League's pace-setters virtually from the word go, and such is reflected by their current positions and points-tallies. City presently lead the way at the top of the pile after their 5-1 demolition of Tottenham at White Hart Lane Wednesday, while Chelsea remain a close 3rd. Just 3 points separate the sides, and both will have their sights on coming away with an advantage come the final whistle – for City, the chance to go 6 points clear of their rivals from the South; for Chelsea, the opportunity to draw level on points with their steadfast counterparts after spending much of the season trailing ever so tantalizingly close behind them.









City have certainly had the number of their Monday visitors in recent years, winning 7 of the last 11 meetings between the 2. Indeed, many Chelsea fans know all too well and note often that the Citizens have become something of a bogey side to the Blues since their takeover 6 years ago. Chelsea have already managed to undo one duck in October with a victory over their nemeses following a slew of continual disappointing results against them, including in several post-season friendly matches early this past summer, and José Mourinho will undoubtedly be hoping another can be attained come Monday.










Mike Dean, who last officiated for Chelsea in their 0-0 draw with London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in December and for City in their 1-0 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in November, has been appointed referee for this match.










Almost certain to miss this match for the home side are key front-man Sergio Aguero, who limped off not long after opening the scoring in his side's 5-1 caning of Tottenham at White Hart Lane Wednesday, and Samir Nasri, who is not expected back for some time yet, with central midfield duo James Milner and Javi Garcia also doubtful, while Chelsea will remain without Fernando Torres, who of course scored the exhilarating last-minute winner in the reverse fixture in October.

Decent news, still the hardest match of the season.

If we want to win the title, we cannot lose this match.

Means he will miss our FAC tie too

Still a lot of firepower in that city side.

I know

Otherwise I'd make a bigger deal of it.

Even still, Aguero is one less threat we have to worry about.

Yes, and their biggest threat.

He's somebody who can produce something special, something out of nothing which I don't really see Negredo doing. Will still be a very hard match but I honestly don't rate Negredo anywhere near as much as the praise he's been getting, his team makes him look good.

Yeah, that is what worries me.

Let's hope Jose can change that.

I really think we can get a result there.

I think if anyone can do it, we can.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Nastasic, Kolarov, Navas, Demichelis, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Negredo

Fernandinho out after all

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; David Luiz, Matic; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Eto'o

4-3-3 for us then.

SUBS: Pantilimon, Boyata, Clichy, Milner, Rodwell, Lopes, Jovetic


SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Oscar, Salah, Ba

Thoughts on the line up Shed?

The right one, for me. Throwback to the Chelsea of old.

I thought you'd freak seeing Luiz in the middle

If Mou was going to play 4-3-3, who better, really? Lamps? Nah.

Nightmare start. Thank fcuk we weren't made to pay.

My god it's early