Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2015
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech:, external The big game is coming... are you ready?
Summary
Gap at top stays at five points
Silva diverted Aguero's shot home to level
Chelsea went ahead with Remy's close-range finish
Lampard was a 76th-minute sub
Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2015
A title-defining match?published at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2015
It's first versus second in the Premier League...
Image source, Getty Images...Jose Mourinho versus Manuel Pellegrini...
Image source, Getty Images...and the return of this chap to Stamford Bridge...
Image source, Getty Images...all set for what is already shaping up to be a classic?
LINE-UPSpublished at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2015
In the absence of the suspended Diego Costa, Loic Remy starts up front for Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas is injured and so Ramires comes into midfield. Kurt Zouma continues at the back in place of Gary Cahill. Branislav Ivanovic has recovered from the knock he received against Liverpool midweek and starts.
Manchester City pair Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony are both unavailable as a result of their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations. Pablo Zabaleta is benched and so Bacary Sagna starts at right-back in the only change from the 2-0 loss to Arsenal. Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is on the bench.
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Remy.
Manchester City starting XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner, Silva, Aguero.
Will Diego incident Costa Chelsea?published at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was inevitable there would be some sort of off-field talking point(s) coming into this game. It is a major fixture. And Jose Mourinho is involved. The Chelsea boss' ire may have come to a head this week over the Football Association's banning of Diego Costa for a stamp on Emre Can during the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield.
But the response - which saw Chelsea cancel Thursday's news conference for today's game - has its roots in the Chelsea boss' belief of a "campaign" to influence referees' decisions against his side. A belief that has led to him being fined by the FA. So, is there a campaign against Chelsea? You might want to read our feature on the matter before making your mind up.
Let's get ready to rumble...published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesHere we go then, the big one! Table-topping Chelsea take on second-placed Manchester City in a game that could well end up defining this Premier League season. Thankfully, there's been nothing going on to distract us from the game. We can focus our attention entirely on the action on the pitch, no injuries to key players, no disciplinary shenanigans.... What's that? Oh...