Premier League Preview – Manchester City vs Chelsea, Sunday 10th February 2019

Can Man City chase off Chelsea and keep their precarious place at the top of the Premier League intact this Sunday?

A relatively routine, slightly scrappy 2-0 against Everton on Wednesday – rescheduled due to City’s impending EFL Cup final (also against Chelsea) – saw Pep Guardiola and co. finally retook the top spot for the first time since the start of December.

However, that feat comes with a couple of major caveats. Firstly, they’ve now played one more game than Liverpool – though, in an interesting little twist, the Reds will be facing Manchester United while City head to Wembley. Secondly, the title frontrunners are actually level on points, with only City’s superior goal difference – at 48 to Liverpool’s 41 – pushing them ahead.

As for Chelsea, while their title chase is effectively over, they are stuck in a battle for 4th place. On 50 points the Blues are just 2 above Man United and 3 in front of Arsenal, and could easily find their grasp on a spot in the Champions League slipping given their recent form.

2019 kicked off with a dreary 0-0 draw against an in danger Southampton. A 2-1 win over Newcastle followed, only for Chelsea to suffer back-to-back league losses at Arsenal (2-1) and Bournemouth (shockingly 4-0). Huddersfield were punished for these missteps, the Blues terrorizing the Terriers with a 5-0 battering. They’ve been more confident in the FA Cup, with a 5th round visit from Man United in a couple of weeks.

Though both sides are similarly tight at the back, City have been far more prolific going forwards, with 68 league goals to Chelsea’s 45. That’s because, while Sergio Aguero only has 2 more league games than Eden Hazard, the defending champions have a much richer front line – Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane etc – Maurizio Sarri’s misfiring forwards.

Even if it won’t be easy, the hosts should have the required drive to give the Blues the blues; Spreadex are offering a Man City/Chelsea Goal Supremacy spread of 1.1-1.3, alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.9-3.1 and a Bookings spread of 43-47.