Manchester City vs Chelsea (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch  | OneFootball

Manchester City host Chelsea in Premier League action for their first home game of 2026 as they continue to hunt down Arsenal for pole position and the top-flight title.

The Blues kicked off the calendar year with a goalless visit to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. Despite the result, both teams created chances to put the ball in the back of the net – which did not happen thanks to goalkeepers Robin Roefs and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Throughout the course of the 90 minutes against the Black Cats, Savinho picked up an injury while Nico Gonzalez was withdrawn at half time both owing to injury issues, with the good news being the return of both Jeremy Doku and Rodri.

Back to Etihad Stadium after two away matchdays, Manchester City take on Chelsea without a manager after Enzo Maresca was dismissed by the club on New Year’s Day. Interim head coach Calum McFarlane – also responsible for the Under-21s – will be in charge.

The aforementioned Italian boss lost his role at Chelsea after their 2-2 draw at home against Bournemouth, as well as a poor streak across December. Guardiola, in his pre-match media duties, spoke on the matter and said there is no surprise in football.

“It only confirms how lucky I am – I was and I am – in the club where I am. My club is extraordinary,” Guardiola admitted.

And now, ahead of Manchester City’s second Premier League game this year, here is everything you need to know about Sunday evening’s clash!

Match details

Manchester City will face off against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 GMT.

Match officials

The Premier League has announced that Michael Oliver will officiate the clash between Manchester City and Chelsea.

Check out the full list of match officials, including the VAR team, below!

Team news

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are continuing to represent Algeria and Egypt respectively in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, both reaching the Last-16 stage of the tournament.

Elsewhere on the injury front, all of Savinho, Mateo Kovacic, John Stones and Oscar Bobb are all injured and out of this important match, while it remains to be seen whether Nico was withdrawn in the North-East as a precaution.

As for the visitors, Moisés Caicedo is suspended following an accumulation of five yellow cards within Chelsea’s first 19 Premier League games of the season, while Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Dário Essugo and Joriel Hato are expected to be unavailable.

Mykhailo Mudryk remained banned.

Head to head

In their most recent duel, Manchester City came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium, after Noni Madueke opened the scoring for the visitors, before Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored to give the win to the home side.

Since the 2021 UEFA Champions League final between the two clubs held in the Portuguese city of Porto, Manchester City have not lost to Chelsea in all competitions (9 wins, 2 draws).

In the history books, these two teams have faced off a total of 160 times, with 67 wins for Manchester City, 71 triumphs for Chelsea, and 42 draws. Overall, City have scored 238 times against this opposition, and conceded 241.

Press Conference quotes

Pep Guardiola on Rodri’s return: “It’s always what we’re looking for, but I’d say you have to wait a little bit because he’s come [back] from one year and a half [out], forwards and backwards – you have to be careful. But the schedule is the schedule.

“Always with Rodri on the pitch we’re better. I’m not saying [anything about] Nico; without him it wouldn’t be possible, because [Mateo] Kovacic is not there for a long time as well.

“Nico has been outstanding. But, you know, Rodri is Rodri – everybody knows it. And we’re better [with him] and the people feel better. But, we have to be careful.”

On whether changes are needed vs Chelsea: “We’ll see how people recover. In this period, to have two games away is so demanding. Christmas time it always happens, and being in tough two games in Nottingham Forest and here [Sunderland]. Not much time.

“We’ll see what happens. Rodri and Jeremy [Doku], both come [back] from long, long injuries. We have to be careful, talk with doctors, physios. We’ll see. We’ll miss Savinho. But with more difficulties, the stronger we’ll be.”

On combatting an unpredictable Chelsea side post-Enzo Maresca: “Don’t talk much. If you don’t know what the opponent is going to do – because I don’t know which manager will be sitting and I don’t know what’s going to happen – no concerns more than thinking about yourself and what you have to do with our people [the fans], who are going to help in two tough games against Chelsea and Brighton.”

Statistics

Chelsea have won their first league game in just one of the last nine calendar years (D6 L2), beating Fulham 1-0 in 2024.

Manchester City have won their last eight Premier League home games, netting 3+ goals in seven of those including the last five in a row. They last scored 3+ goals in more consecutive home league games between April and October 2022 (10).

Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games (D4 L2), having won five of their previous six (L1).

Chelsea have dropped 15 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, as many as in the whole of 2024-25 while they last dropped more in 2022-23 (18). However, 13 of these 15 points dropped have come at Stamford Bridge.

This will be Pep Guardiola’s 31st meeting with Chelsea as a manager (W15 D7 L8), only facing Arsenal more often (33). As Man City boss this will be his 26th against the Blues (W15 D3 L7), his joint-most against an opponent (also 26 vs Manchester United).

Erling Haaland has scored 11 goals in eight Premier League home games for Man City this season, netting twice in five different games. The last player to score 2+ goals in more different home games in a season was Haaland himself in 2022-23 (6).

Each of Cole Palmer’s last nine Premier League goals for Chelsea have been scored in London. He’s not scored outside of the capital since December 2024 (vs Southampton), while he’s not scored north of London since August 2024 (vs Wolves).

How to watch

In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcasted as the Sky Sports Main Event.

As for those in the United States, the contest will be broadcast live on NBCSN and Peacock.

You can find the full global TV listings here!

City Xtra will have full live coverage available on our X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram channels throughout Wednesday evening, with content also provided on cityxtra.co.uk and YouTube!