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Chelsea and Manchester City will resume their rivalry at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the Premier League in a blockbuster clash.
The reigning European champions have beaten the reigning Premier League champions in each of their last three encounters, including the showpiece Porto game in May. But Pep Guardiola's troops will seek revenge this time, although they've been inconsistent this season.
Amidst the highs of resounding victories over Arsenal and Norwich City, there were the lows of a loss to Tottenham Hotspur and a goalless draw with Southampton. Meanwhile, Chelsea have had a near-perfect start to the new campaign. They have won four times and drawn once in their opening five games to sit atop the league table.
Given the number of attacking options in both camps, there could be goals galore tomorrow. But both Chelsea and City have conceded just one goal apiece, the best defensive record in the Premier League at the moment.
With big Champions League games coming up next week - Chelsea play Juventus while City visit PSG - an interesting game could ensue. Ahead of the mouth-watering kick-off, here's a look at how the two Premier League powerhouses would stack up in a hypothetical combined XI: A 4-2-1-3 formation has been considered.
Goalkeeper: Ederson Moraes (Manchester City)
Both Edouard Mendy and Ederson Moraes have been impressive for their respective teams.
Mendy, in particular, has transformed Chelsea's fortunes last season with his heroics in goal, playing a big role in their European success. His Brazilian counterpart has been doing the same for Manchester City for years now.
Ederson's sheer consistency - 75 clean sheets in 150 games - means he gets the nod.
Ederson has arguably been the most consistent goalkeeper in the Premier League since arriving in 2017. The 28-year-old is agile, commanding and physically imposing too, and possesses excellent reflexes.
He is key in distributing the ball, currently leading the league in terms of clean sheets alongside his compatriot Alisson, with four apiece. Ederson would look to keep another one against Chelsea as City strives to climb to the league summit.
Right-back: Reece James (Chelsea)
Manchester City's Kyle Walker and Chelsea's Reece James are both good players. But the latter has had a much bigger impact for his team, and has made a better start to the new season too.
A revelation in Chelsea's squad under Thomas Tuchel last season, the 21-year-old possesses exceptional qualities to thrive at both ends of the pitch. He has already registered a goal and two assists in three league games so far.
Against City, for all their attacking might, James must be wary of leaving too much gaps behind. But if his on-the-line clearance in midweek is anything to go by, James is expected to be up for the challenge.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Ruben Dias is arguably Manchester City's best signing in a long time. Since arriving from Benfica last year, the Portuguese has addressed most of their defensive shortcomings.
In fact, his partnership with John Stones was key in City winning the Premier League last season. While Stones is struggling with injuries right now, Dias is going strong.
Apart from his defensive attributes, Dias is also an excellent passer of the ball, helping City build from the back. He has made the most successful passes in the league this season, with 419.
Dias will be tasked with keeping the in-form Romelu Lukaku at bay in what seems like an interesting battle.
Centre-back: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Few players in their late 30s perform as consistently as Thiago Silva. His imperious displays earned him a contract extension at Chelsea, and he is repaying that faith this season as well.
The Brazilian, with the rejuvenated Antonio Rudiger alongside him, has marshalled Chelsea's backline with great aplomb. He remains a set-piece threat too, capable of popping up with a header or two.
Left-back: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
This was quite easy. Manchester City have very few options in this position; Ben Chilwell's form has dropped spectacularly since last season, leaving Marcos Alonso the obvious pick.
The Spaniard has rejuvenated himself under Thomas Tuchel. He is now a regular player in Chelsea's XI, recapturing his mojo that made him a star during his first season at the club.
He also offers more attacking threat than Chilwell, having already scored and assisted once apiece in the Premier League this season. Alonso has dispatched his defensive duties with elan too.
Defensive midfielder: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Since bursting onto the scene with Leicester City in 2015, Chelsea's N'Golo Kante hasn't looked back. His rise to the limelight has been meteoric, making him one of the first names in the starting XI.
There can be little debate about his inclusion in this list. That's because the Frenchman is one the best in the world at what he does.
A dynamic player and an endless reservoir of energy, Kante is mostly known for his tireless runs. He is also key to breaking opposition plays while providing stoic cover for the backline.
Defensive Midfielder: Jorginho (Chelsea)
Rodri is a talented midfielder and could've made a strong case against most other sides. But a double pivot of Kante and Jorginho has worked wonders for Chelsea. That's why Jorginho gets the nod over the City player.
The 'double European champion' of the year, has lifted both the Champions League and Euro 2020 titles this summer. Il Professore combines his technical abilities with composure, intelligence and passing accuracy, making him indispensable in midfield.
Jorginho has also been crucial in breaking down opposition teams' possession, and is widely considered one of the best midfielders in the world. His prowess from the penalty spot is well-documented too.
Jorginho and Kante will have the Herculean task of keeping City's Kevin De Bruyne at bay on Saturday, though.
Attacking Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
This is another position that's always a lock whenever Manchester City are in action. That's because Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best attacking midfielder in the game at the moment.
An ankle injury has hampered his start to the new campaign. But it's impossible to leave out the Belgian international, whose importance to Pep Guardiola's side remains as high as ever.
A prolific creator with an eye for goal, De Bruyne can pass the ball with the precision of a surgical knife. His crosses inside the box are second to none, and he can dribble his way through tight spaces with relative ease too.
Chelsea happen to be his second favourite side in the Premier League. He has scored four times against them. On his last visit to Stamford Bridge, he scored in City's 3-1 win.
Right Winger: Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
Kai Havertz was Chelsea's hero in their Champions League win over Manchester City last season. He scored the only goal of the game in the final, and will fancy his chances again against the same opponents.
Admittedly, the German hasn't made the most impressive of starts to the new season. Havertz has scored only once in five games, but that strike came in the 1-1 draw to Liverpool, highlighting his big-game pedigree.
A technically-gifted player with an eye for pass and possessing excellent vision, Havertz has the talent to find spaces in congested areas. He can make the right runs too, like he did in Porto a few months back.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
It's been a whirlwind return to Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku. He has taken little time to prove his worth, scoring four goals in six games, including three in the Premier League.
The Belgian recaptured his mojo at Inter Milan after seeing his career go awry with Manchester United. Lukaku scored 64 times for the Nerazzurri in 95 games, helping them to the Serie A title last season.
Now back in the Premier League after only two years, he has continued in the same vein. Lukaku has looked sharper and more of a complete player than ever before, as he has settled into Thomas Tuchel's system like a fish to water.
However, City will provide him a stern challenge. Lukaku's record against them is relatively poor. He has netted only five goals in 16 games, ending on the losing side ten times, something he'll look to change on Saturday.
Left Winger: Jack Grealish (Manchester City)
The most expensive Premier League player of all time, Jack Grealish has a lot riding on his shoulders this season. But he has fared well at his new surroundings.
He has a goal and an assist in both the Premier League and Champions League. It's also true that the Englishman is yet to produce the form that made him a star at Aston Villa, though.
Renowned for his prolific dribbling skills and creativity, Grealish possesses excellent ball-control. His crosses are generally top-notch, and he is likely t net plenty of goals too.
His creative skills could be key on Saturday against Chelsea's mean defence. So it might just be the right occasion for Grealish to hit the throttle with his new club and endear himself to the City faithful.
