"I don't fancy them to win" - Mark Lawrenson makes bold prediction for Manchester City vs Chelsea

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has backed Manchester City to continue their stellar recent run by defeating Chelsea this weekend. The two teams will compete in a Premier League encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, May 21.

City enter this game knowing that a win will secure their third league title on the bounce. Pep Guardiola's side currently sit atop the standings with 85 points from 35 matches, four clear of second-placed Arsenal, who have played a game more.

The Blues, meanwhile, have been in a rut for much of the season. Frank Lampard's return to the dugout hasn't led to a change in fortunes and they find themselves 11th in the table with just 43 points from 35 matches.

In his prediction column for Paddy Power, Lawrenson predicted another home victory for City, who have won 16 of their 18 league games at the Etihad. In fact, they haven't lost a game across competitions since a 1-0 away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in February.

Lawrenson wrote:

"Manchester City’s performance against Real Madrid was amazing. That was what football’s all about. They way they made Madrid look ordinary… they’re in such a run of form.

"When you keep winning games you can play every single day, nobody seems to get tired. I think Chelsea might keep the score down, but I don’t fancy them to win. Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea."

Manchester City enter this clash on the back of a resounding 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal. Bernardo Silva scored a first-half brace, while Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez also got on the scoresheet, sealing a 5-1 aggregate win.

Chelsea, on the other hand, drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest in the league in their last game. Raheem Sterling's quickfire brace in the second half overturned a 1-0 deficit, but Taiwo Awoniyi, who gave Forest a 13th-minute lead, scored again to level things up.

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Manchester City have already beaten Chelsea three times this season

Manchester City's dominance over Chelsea this season is another indicator that the latter could be in for a difficult evening on Sunday. The two teams have clashed thrice already in the ongoing campaign, once each in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League.

Their first meeting was in the third round of the Carabao Cup back in November last year. City sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Etihad thanks to second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez.

Manchester City and Chelsea then clashed in the Premier League in January, this time at Stamford Bridge. The result didn't change, though, as Pep Guardiola's men came away with a 1-0 win courtesy of Mahrez's 63rd-minute strike.

Their most recent encounter was in the third round of the FA Cup and came just three days after their league tie, once again at the Etihad. The hosts picked up their biggest victory over the Blues of this season, thrashing them 4-0.

Mahrez was in the thick of it all once again, netting a brace, while Alvarez and Phil Foden also got on the scoresheet.