Man City XI vs Chelsea: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

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Evening Standard

·2. Januar 2026

Man City XI vs Chelsea: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

City picked up two new fitness concerns in Sunderland draw

Rodri could make his first Premier League start for Man City since October as Chelsea visit the Etihad on Sunday.

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Man City have now fallen four points behind League leaders Arsenal, and have a good opportunity to close the gap as they face crisis-stricken Chelsea.

Rodri last started for Pep Guardiola’s side away to Brentford in matchweek seven as he struggled to shake off a niggling hamstring injury.

He made a comeback at the Stadium of Light on Thursday night, though, replacing the injured Nico Gonzalez at half-time as City were held to a goalless draw by Sunderland.

Gonzalez had been Rodri’s go-to understudy, and it is a stroke of luck that his injury coincides with his countryman’s comeback.

Guardiola hailed Rodri’s cameo in Sunderland, saying: “He changed the game. He proved in 45 minutes that he is the best in his position. Hopefully he can stay fit because he makes us a better team."

Back in the fold: Rodri returned for Man City against Sunderland

AFP via Getty Images

There was another new injury worry for City in the northeast, though, as Savinho came off early in the second half.

Speaking post-match, Guardiola said his issue “does not look good,” but it remains unclear whether he will be passed fit to face Chelsea. He did not speak on Gonzalez’s issue.

Guardiola has shied away from rotation in recent weeks, sticking with a newfound winning formula, but he may be inspired to shuffle the deck as he welcomes managerless Chelsea to the Etihad barely 72 hours after the full-time whistle blew on Wearside.

There could be rotation in the front line following Jeremy Doku’s return. The Belgian may offer Phil Foden a welcome rest - he has completed 90 minutes in four consecutive Premier League outings, drawing blanks in three of them.

Josko Gvardiol was named to the bench at the Stadium of Light and should slot back in on home soil.

Mainstay Gianluigi Donnarumma will continue between the sticks, with Erling Haaland up top, while returning Rodri will be flanked by the usual suspects Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva.

Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb, and John Stones are all expected to miss the match through injury, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri continue their AFCON campaigns in Morocco.

Predicted Man City XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Haaland, Foden

Injured: Kovacic, Stones, Bobb

Doubt: Savinho, Gonzalez

Unavailable: Ait-Nouri, Marmoush (AFCON)

Time and date: 5.30pm GMT on Sunday, January 4, 2026

How to watch: Sky Sports