Premier League: Billionaire Boys Prepare for Lunchtime Showdown

Manchester City vs Chelsea

They are the two clubs whose reputation and success has soared since being taken over by billionaires.

For approaching two decades, Manchester City and Chelsea have forged reputations as clubs who are going places and the fact they are placed first and second in the Premier League makes this Saturday’s top of the table clash even more appealing.

While City have a good advantage at the summit, the destiny of the title race could well swing in another direction if Chelsea are able to win at Eastlands.

And let’s not forget, the west Londoners have something that City, for all their wealth, desperately crave.

Talking Points

In fact, as he approaches his first anniversary it should be remembered Thomas Tuchel is the first manager in the history of Chelsea to reach the final of the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League – despatching City along the way in the latter two.

After guiding them to the League Cup Final in midweek with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Spurs, they now have more silverware in their sights.

Don’t rule them out making a title charge just yet though.

The way they fought back last time to draw with Liverpool – an encounter jam-packed with Premier League 2022 highlights – shows they have character to match their talent.

In midweek, their strength was shown as Thiago Silva, Marcos Alonso, Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante were all on the bench and it is that depth which means they cannot be dismissed to spark a title charge.

City have the distinct advantage, however, of enjoying a free midweek which could prove crucial given this contest kicks off less than 72 hours after Chelsea’s League Cup tie at Spurs had concluded. 

In their final match of 2021 (at Brentford) and their opener of 2022 (at Arsenal), City were not at their best, in fact could even be described as sluggish.

Yet, crucially, they managed to discover that magic ingredient on both occasions – winning.

City will also know that victory in this one can all but end Chelsea’s title ambitions as it would take them 13 points clear of their rivals.

That could be all the incentive they need as Guardiola’s men go in search of a 12^th successive top-flight win.

History

The sides met three times in the final weeks of last season and Chelsea won the lot.

They impressed with a 1-0 Wembley victory in the FA Cup semi-final, courtesy of a Ziyech goal.

If that made people sit up and take notice, they then became something of an annoyance to City when they repeated that success weeks later with a last gasp 2-1 league victory which delayed City’s title coronation.

On that occasion, victory was secured through Ziyech and Alonso after Raheem Sterling had put City ahead.

However, when Chelsea and Kai Havertz made it three out of three in the final of the Champions League, the hurt caused to the blue half of Manchester was immeasurable.

While City turned on the style to win 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in September in the league, thanks to a Gabriel Jesus goal, there is no doubt Tuchel has certainly got the better of Pep Guardiola over the past 12 months.

Not for four seasons have City managed a league double over Chelsea.

That came courtesy of two 1-0 successes in 2017/18 when Kevin de Bruyne netted the winner at Stamford Bridge and Bernardo Silva did the same in Manchester.

Overall, City have won 60 of their meetings, Chelsea 71 and there have been 39 draws.

Their very first meeting came in December 1907 when the sides drew 2-2 in Division One.

For the record, the Chelsea scorers that day were Billy Brawn and George Hilsdon.

Betting Tip

	Manchester City vs Chelsea	Under 2.50 @ 2.04
	January 15, 20:30 (GMT+8)

Despite being the top two, the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds make Chelsea rank outsiders.

It’s not very often Tuchel’s men are priced 1X2 @ 4.60 or Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.26.

By contrast, City are odds on both 1X2 @ 1.72 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.88.

The draw will pay out @ 3.70, which may be worth pondering given these two are fairly evenly matched and that it’s a meeting between the reigning English champions and the reigning European champions.

Double Chance Chelsea or Draw @ 2.04 has also caught my eye. Rather surprisingly given the attacking talent on show – although perhaps not as both sides have terrific defenders in their ranks – I am going to opt for a low-scoring affair and under 2.50 goals.

 

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