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EPL: Chelsea - Manchester City Match Betting Preview



This Saturday evening we’ve got a cracker as two of the top Premier League sides face up at Stamford Bridge! Chelsea have hit a bit of a dip in form in recent weeks and have fallen 10 pts behind league leaders and defending champions Manchester City and definitely look like they’re out of the title race already, however they can prove doubters wrong here with a win or else well their title hopes would definitely be done. Man City are riding a hot 7 game win streak in the league but haven’t been able to separate themselves away from their closest title rivals Liverpool as they only lead by 2 pts meaning City can’t afford to let the foot off the pedal go and must continue to keep winning to stay at the top! Both teams play entertaining football and this is looking like it’s going to be an amazing  game to watch for the neutrals!


Key Facts


Chelsea are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season. 9W 3D 0L.


Chelsea have kept 3 consecutive clean sheets at home in all competitions.


Chelsea have won just 1 of their last 4 league games losing 2 and drawing 1.


Ruben Loftus-Cheek has scored 6 goals in his last 7 apps for Chelsea. Man in form.


Chelsea have 10 overs and 5 unders in the League this season (2.5 total). On average there’s 2.9 goals scored in their games.


Chelsea have struggled against big teams this season having drawn Liverpool and Man Utd at home, losing 3-1 to Spurs and grabbing the lone win against Arsenal 3-2. No clean sheets against the big 6 yet and they’ve conceded 2+ goals in 3 of the 4 games against such opposition.


8 of Chelsea’s 13 league goals conceded came against big 6 opposition.


Eden Hazard has not scored since 7th October for Chelsea.


Manchester City are currently on a 7 game win streak in the league scoring 24 and conceding just 4 in that run. RED HOT.


Man City are the highest scoring team in the league with 45 goals. They average 3 goals per game in the league.


Man City have the 2nd best defensive record in the league with 7 goals conceded and have kept 8 clean sheets in 15 games.


No player has contributed to more goals than Raheem Sterling in the league with 14 this season in the league (8 Goals 6 Assists).


Man City have conceded the least away goals in the league with 2 in 7 games.


Man City have been very good against big 6 opposition having beaten Arsenal 0-2, Spurs 0-1 away from home, 3-1 win over Man Utd and also drew 0-0 away at Liverpool.


Man City have 10 overs 5 unders (2.5 total) and on average there’s 3.5 goals scored in their league games.


Man City have beaten Chelsea in 3 straight games keeping a clean sheet in each (0-1 1-0 2-0).


Man City have beaten Chelsea in 4 of last 6 BPL meetings.


Man City have only lost once in their last 4 visits at Stamford Bridge in the league winning there twice


Pep Guardiola faced Maurizio Sarri last season twice and beat the then Sarri’s Napoli 2-1 at home and 2-4 in Italy


Team News


Chelsea: Ross Barkley has been nursing an injury and missed the previous 2 games and could be out again for Chelsea. Sarri rotated his side on Wednesday with Giroud, Pedro, Kovacic, Jorginho and Luiz all sitting on the bench or completely being left out. Jorginho and Luiz are both going to be back while Giroud and Pedro will hope to return into the squad over woeful Morata and Willian. Kovacic may not make it with Ruben Loftus-Cheek playing great football right now, however Sarri may opt for a safer approach and could bring in Kovacic over Loftus-Cheek. It’s really best to wait to see who starts in midfield to complete it. Kovacic has been preferred to start  in big games this season. Hazard, Kante, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Alonso and Kepa are all expected to keep their starting places.


Manchester City: Man City have been dealt with bad news as Sergio Aguero is out for this game therefore Gabriel Jesus will continue to start up top. Kevin de Bruyne, Bravo and Mendy all remain out, Zinchenko is also added to the absentee list. Delph is expected to start at LB. Raheem Sterling was left out against Watford for what was rest reasons and will either return for Mahrez or Sane, more likely Mahrez. The midfield trio of Silva, Silva and Fernandinho should continue to start together while Laporte and Otamendi will seek to displace Kompany and Stones. Walker and Ederson will continue to start in their positions.


Betting Tips and Predictions


Every stat right now points to a Man City direction here. City to win is priced at 1.98 and despite them missing Aguero they are rightly tipped favourites and we will take these odds. Chelsea are struggling right now, they’ve not had the best of times playing against the big boys while City are the best team in the league with the best coach and are playing at the peak of their game right now. In fact, City -1.5 AH at 3.65 is worth the risk if you like higher odds. The next pick is over 3 goals. Chelsea’s games against top teams are high scoring, playing against a City can only mean this will continue. City alone could bag that over, but Chelsea should be able to get a goal themselves to help that come through. We anticipate a pretty entertaining game with goals but eventually Manchester City should come away with a 1-3 win. City are simply in a far better state right now than Chelsea and the level in clubs is way different right now in City’s favour.




Match Odds (Unibet)


Chelsea Win – 3.95


Draw – 3.75


Manchester City Win – 1.98



KICK OFF – 8th December 2018 – 5:30pm UK Time

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