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

Blues get their first taste of life post-Enzo Maresca

Calum McFarlane will take charge of Chelsea on a caretaker basis when they visit Manchester City on Sunday.

McFarlane and his caretaker coaching staff are still yet to receive final confirmation from Chelsea’s medical staff about whether Marc Cucurella will have fully recovered from a hamstring injury in time to play against City.

The Spaniard asked to come off against Aston Villa on December 27 and did not face Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Left-back Cucurella was part of the training session on Friday, however, and McFarlane admitted that was “positive”.

He added: “We’re undecided. I don’t have the full information on [whether he will be available], but I’m sure it’ll come out in the next couple of days.”

McFarlane has some important selection decisions to make, particularly in midfield. Moises Caicedo is unavailable as he serves a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, which proved to be Maresca’s final match in charge.

Andrey Santos or right-backs Reece James or Malo Gusto could come in to midfield to partner Enzo Fernandez in a double pivot, assuming McFarlane sets Chelsea up in the same 4-2-3-1 formation that Maresca preferred during his 18-month tenure.

Estevao Willian was Chelsea’s best player in the Bournemouth game and he is pushing for another start when the Blues face second-in-the-league City at the Etihad, but McFarlane may trust the more experienced Pedro Neto on the right flank instead.

Cole Palmer is still yet to play a full 90 minutes since September but Chelsea may feel this is the moment, as he takes on the club that sold him to Chelsea for £40million plus £2.5m in add-ons in September 2023.

Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill are all long-term absentees.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, James; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro

Doubt: Cucurella

Injured: Lavia, Colwill, Essugo

Suspended: Caicedo

Time and date: 5:30pm GMT on Sunday January 4, 2026

Venue: Etihad Stadium