Chelsea team news vs Man City and predicted lineup | OneFootball

Chelsea will be hoping to bounce back from their torrid run when they travel to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday at 5:30pm.

The Blues are winless in their past three league matches and have only won one of their past seven, dropping to fifth.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Man City

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

It’s also a new era at Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca leaving the club by mutual consent on New Year’s Day. Man City are among the worst possible opponents to have post-manager change, with Chelsea winless in their past eight matches against the Citizens.

Chelsea team news vs Man City

Aside from the draw, Chelsea suffered a big blow against Bournemouth in midweek. Moises Caicedo picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, ruling him out for this match. It was the last game for five yellow cards to lead to a suspension, with the threshold now upped to 10.

Reece James is likely to replace him in midfield, with Malo Gusto swapping over to right-back. Gusto started on the left against Bournemouth with Marc Cucurella out injured. There’s a chance Cucurella could be back in time to play and, given his importance, he’ll be set to start.

Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia remain doubts and unlikely to play, which will further force Chelsea’s hands with James and Cucurella. Josh Acheampong is likely to drop out of the starting XI for Cucurella, which Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana the two centre-backs.

Enzo Fernandez should keep his spot in the double pivot alongside James, with Cole Palmer occupying the No.10 role. But there may be changes around him. Pedro Neto will be expected to return to the starting XI, replacing Estevao, with Alejandro Garnacho staying on the right.

Joao Pedro could replace Liam Delap as the starting striker, though Chelsea have struggled in that position all season. Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo are injured.

A new face in the dugout

The new era at Chelsea won’t officially begin until after Sunday’s game against Man City — at the very earliest. The Blues are yet to announce a replacement for Maresca, though the rumours are flying.

Under-21 manager Calum McFarlane will be tasked with taking charge of Chelsea against Man City, and until the Blues appoint a new boss. McFarlane joined Chelsea in the summer having spent two yeard at Southampton, managing both the U18s and then U21s.

Before that, though, McFarlane spent time at Man City. He was manager of their youth team and U18s, overseeing success in the league. But this will be his first taste of senior professional football.

So far this season, McFarlane has overseen Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the Uefa Youth League with five wins and one draw. They sit top of the league, one point clear, with two games left to play. Chelsea’s U21s also sit fourth in Premier League 2, despite 16 of their 26 players used being teenagers – including four 17-year-olds.