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Manchester City are back in their rightful place, as the Cityzens call it - the top of the Premier League table.
But still, their lead over Liverpool is only in terms of goal difference, and that too with the Reds still having a game in hand. City's next challenge will be at home. It will be against the team which gave Liverpool the lead on the league table for the first time this season, Chelsea. And to think, Chelsea could help Liverpool get some breathing space yet again.
Chelsea will come to the Etihad Stadium, confident on the back of their 5-0 battering of Huddersfield. Their new recruitment upfront, Gonzalo Higuain, put on a good show in the last game. Manchester City does not have any shortage of confidence either. They defeated Arsenal on the back of Aguero's superb hat-trick, and then they beat Everton 2-0.
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When the two lock horns at the Etihad, it will be a battle of wits between the coaches, it will be a battle of two good teams, and it will be a battle of two strikers who are in good form.
Kickoff information
Date: Sunday, 10 February 2019
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Time: 4 PM GMT, 9:30 PM IST
Form guide
The last 5 competitive fixtures of both teams.
Manchester City: W-W-W-W-W
Chelsea: L-W-W-W-W
Five facts you should know
Manchester City has lost three of their last five matches against Chelsea in the Premier League, scoring just 4 goals and never scoring more than once.
Chelsea has won on just 2 of their last 9 visits to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League (D1, L6), winning 1-0 in February 2016, and 3-1 in December 2016.
Chelsea won the reverse fixture this season. They have won twice in the same season against City on 10 previous occasions in the Premier League - the most a side has done against City in the competition.
Chelsea is winless in the last six away games against the 'Big Six' in the Premier League (D2, L4), losing the last four in a row.
Manchester City has scored more than once in each of their last 14 home games. If they score twice, they will set a new competition record for scoring more than once in consecutive home games.
Key players
Aymeric Laporte
The Frenchman started at left-back against Everton, and also scored a goal. Him starting at center-back alongside Stones seems imminent against Chelsea.
Chelsea has been scoring for fun in their last few games and will be looking to continue in the same fashion. Laporte's solidity and distribution will be key to City's success.
Gonzalo Higuain
Moving on from ages of mediocrity in the striker's position, Chelsea has finally secured a good and underrated striker in Gonzalo Higuain.
Higuain was absolutely top-notch in the last game, and it should not be done away with by saying that it was 'just Huddersfield'. His precision and shooting, combined with his linkup play with Hazard will be key to Chelsea's success.
