This evening’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester City doesn’t have a top of the table importance or a role in the title as the FA were perhaps envisaging when the fixtures were made last summer.
Following Manchester United’s win earlier today, Manuel Pellegrini’s side head to Stamford Bridge only one point ahead of their rivals in the final UEFA Champions League spot.
Guus Hiddink was handed his first league defeat during his second interim spell in charge of Chelsea last week when his weakened side went down at Swansea City.
The two teams for this evening’s game are confirmed as:
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois; César Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanović, Baba Rahman; John Obi Mikel, Cesc Fàbregas, Willian, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pedro; Diego Costa
Substitutes: Asmir Begović, Matt Miazga, Nemanja Matić, Kenedy, Bertrand Traoré, Alexandre Pato, Radamel Falcao
Guus Hiddink sticks with Baba Rahman at left-back as Branislav Ivanović continues to play in the centre of the back four.
Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek gets another start in the number 10 role as he looks to impress incoming manager Antonio Conte ahead of next season.
Youngsters Matt Miazga, Kenedy and Bertrand Traoré are named among the substitutes once more.
Manchester City
Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolás Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala, Aleksandar Kolarov; Fernandinho, Yaya Touré, Jesús Navas, Kevin De Bruyne, Samir Nasri; Sergio Agüero
Substitutes: Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Martín Demichelis, Fernando, Fabian Delph, Wilfried Bony, Kelechi Iheanacho
Yaya Touré replaces Fernando in midfield after Manuel Pellegrini declared midweek the Ivory Coast international was not ready to play 90 minutes in their victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Kevin De Bruyne has been excellent in the number 10 role since returning from injury recently and today will be looking to beat the club that never really gave him a chance.
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