Manchester City and Chelsea will meet for the fourth time this season when the latter travel to the Etihad this weekend in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola has won all of the previous meetings this term, which came when Graham Potter was in charge at Stamford Bridge. City won 2-0 in the EFL Cup in November and also recorded a 4-0 victory in the FA Cup third round a few months later.
City won the reverse Premier League fixture 1-0 thanks to a Riyad Mahrez’s back-post tap-in from a Jack Grealish cross, and the champions have recorded five straight wins over Chelsea since they famously were beaten in the 2021 Champions League final.
For the London side, it’s been a thoroughly disappointing campaign that will see them miss out on a European place altogether. Chelsea are currently in 11th and look set for a bottom-half finish, while the Blues are currently closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League places.
Interim manager Frank Lampard is also dealing with a plethora of injury issues at present, with up to nine players expected to be unavailable for Sunday’s game. The former midfielder confirmed on Friday that at least seven are out for the trip to Manchester.
Guardiola doesn’t have the same concerns and is only expected to have one absentee on the weekend when he could clinch a fifth Premier League title.
But who is missing for both sides? Below, we rounded up all 10 players who are struggling with injuries ahead of the game…
1. Nathan Ake- Doubt
Guardiola wasn’t asked about the defender on Friday, but he’s expected to miss out with a knock.
2. Kalidou Koulibaly- Out
One of the seven ruled by Lampard ahead of the game.
3. Benoit Badiashile- Out
Picked up a groin issue that will prevent him from playing at the Etihad.
4. Marc Cucurella- Out
Has a leg injury but could be back for the midweek trip to Old Trafford.