Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Chelsea (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to Premier League action after a midweek defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League as they host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

After six games without tasting defeat across all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s side showed their old weaknesses on Wednesday evening, giving away four unanswered goals after taking a two-goal lead in Paris early in the second-half.

While their Champions League hopes now hang in the balance going into the eighth and final matchday next week, Manchester City will turn attentions back to domestic affairs this weekend in a Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

The Sky Blues collected all three points at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season, and the two Premier League giants now find themselves locked in a race to finish in the top-four. The Londoners currently sit two points ahead of the Etihad outfit.

Heading into the showdown in Manchester on Saturday, concerns have been raised surrounding the fitness of defenders Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, but Pep Guardiola could find some respite in the arrival of January signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.

Meanwhile, the Premier League champions also announced the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt and Egypt international forward Omar Marmoush on Thursday morning, who was thrust straight into training alongside his new teammates hours later.

With those new arrivals in mind for the Premier League champions, let’s take a look at how Pep Guardiola could set up his Manchester City side against Chelsea on Saturday evening!

Predicted XI

Ederson appears to back in Pep Guardiola’s good graces after Stefan Ortega Moreno took his starting spot in between the sticks for a number of matches, and the former should remain in the line-up this weekend.

Matheus Nunes has been solid enough, if not anonymous, in the right-back role since operating in the position for the first time against Manchester United last month. The Portugal international should retain his spot in the line-up against Chelsea this weekend, too.

John Stones‘ return to the team is a major boost for Pep Guardiola, and if he can get 90 minutes out of him against Chelsea this weekend, Manchester City will no doubt be better for it. The Englishman should be partnered with Manuel Akanji.

Meanwhile, Josko Gvardiol will take up his usual spot on the left-flank with no other alternatives available to Pep Guardiola. Although, some have pointed out that Vitor Reis has featured in the role at Palmeiras earlier in his career.

A double-pivot midfield of Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic gave Manchester City some more control against Ipswich Town last time out in the Premier League. As a result, that duo may play together once again against Enzo Maresca’s side.

Kevin De Bruyne looked quite leggy against Paris Saint-Germain during the midweek defeat, which may just lead to Phil Foden taking up the Belgian’s central role as he continues to regain his form.

Savinho has impressed out on the left-wing as of late, but we believe the Brazilian will return back to the right-hand side of Manchester City’s attacking trio as a result of Foden vacating the role.

While Omar Marmoush is finally in the building for Manchester City following lengthy negotiations with Eintracht Frankfurt for his signature this month, Erling Haaland will remain in his usual starting role down the middle.

Jack Grealish has seemingly been out of favour with Pep Guardiola as of late, but the Englishman made a major impact off the bench against PSG on Wednesday evening, scoring a goal and creating another. We believe he will be back in the fold against Chelsea.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Kovacic, Foden; Savinho, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Khusanov, Reis, O’Reilly, Bernardo, De Bruyne, McAtee, Marmoush.