Chelsea

Asked if Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League would be over if they lost, Thomas Tuchel said: "Maybe, who knows.

"We don't think a lot in scenarios - what happens if - let's play the game.

"I'm always in for a good fight, but I'm also always very realistic.

"The situation at the moment is that they are very strong, very consistent and they perform on the absolute highest level."

Football reporter Maz Farookhi chats through today's big talking points on the Football News Show.

This is the 50th Premier League meeting between the sides.

Manchester City only managed three victories in the first 25 encounters but have since won 12 of 24.

This is the second time they have met as the top two teams in the Premier League. The other came in January 2015, with second-placed City earning a 1-1 draw at league leaders Chelsea.

The Blues have been beaten in eight of their past 12 matches at Etihad Stadium.

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We've put together this list of players who have featured for both Manchester City and Chelsea.

You've got six minutes to name all 12. Go!

RJ: I don't expect City to win today. They are vastly superior to Chelsea, but it's the type of game and stage of the season where I see a draw or defeat. But the title is theirs. No doubt about that.

Aston Villa could give debuts to new signings Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho, with the latter poised to make his first Premier League appearance in four years.

Ashley Young is still nursing a broken toe and John McGinn is banned.

Manchester United pair Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay are also suspended.

Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo all missed Monday's FA Cup win over Villa but they should be fit for this game.

Pep Guardiola has lost eight matches as a manager against Chelsea, more than against any other club.

But Chelsea's win at the Etihad last season is Thomas Tuchel's only victory in six career league meetings against Guardiola.

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FutureSkipper: Chelsea haven't got a chance of finishing above Man City regardless of today's result.

Wolves defender Romain Saiss is on international duty with Morocco and will miss his first Premier League game of the season.

Willy Boly, Hwang Hee-chan, Jonny Otto, Petro Neto and Yerson Mosquera are still injured.

Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters is available after a ban and period of self-isolation, while Thierry Small also returns from Covid-19.

Yan Valery is back in the squad after serving a one-match suspension.

Saints remain without Mohamed Elyounoussi, Theo Walcott, Tino Livramento, Will Smallbone and Moussa Djenepo.

Chelsea's form has dipped in the league but they come into this match off the back of a 5-1 FA Cup win over Chesterfield and booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a two-legged victory over Spurs.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Jack Grealish's Manchester City career has been something of a slow burner since his £100m move from Aston Villa. Not bad but, as yet, not sparkling.

What a chance he has to show his quality today after being named in the City side to face a Chelsea side still harbouring hopes of being Premier League title challengers.

Norwich City midfielder Todd Cantwell is available following illness but Mathias Normann, Billy Gilmour, Lukas Rupp and Andrew Omobamidele remain out.

Josh Sargent returns after the birth of his first child.

Several Everton players have returned to training following injury, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Yerry Mina.

Tom Davies is their only confirmed absentee.

Nathan Patterson and Anwar El Ghazi could make their debuts, while Vitaliy Mykolenko is in contention to make his first Premier League appearance.

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Pep Guardiola was one of 21 people, including seven senior players, isolating at the club before their FA Cup win at Swindon Town.

Some of those have returned but there have also been some fresh cases at the top-flight champions.

"We had a lot of cases and a lot of injuries," he said. "We played Aston Villa with 11 first-team players and in the last six or seven games there were four or five academy players on the bench.

"We are in the same situation as all other clubs. Maybe injuries are bit less because our medical department have been exceptional but, in terms of Covid, we have had a lot, like all clubs."

Newcastle's new signing Chris Wood is expected to make his debut in the absence of the injured Callum Wilson.

Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis are edging closer to a return from injury, while Javier Manquillo is suspended.

Watford's Emmanuel Dennis, Kiko Femenia, Ben Foster and Christian Kabasele were all doubts.

New signings Hassane Kamara, Edo Kayembe and Samir are available but Peter Etebo, Nicolas Nkoulou and Ismaila Sarr remain out.

Imran Louza, Adam Masina and William Troost-Ekong are at the Africa Cup of Nations.

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Thomas Tuchel said the way top-flight leaders City have dealt with injuries and Covid-19 this season is the difference between the two sides.

"Maybe it's luck, maybe they do it better, but they have less injuries from key players," he said.

"Less players out and less weeks where they miss them. They did not suffer from Covid as we did over many weeks so this is a huge difference.

"We had some draws in the season that were unnecessary, and if you have the full squad, you create a certain atmosphere that pushes everybody to the edge."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

The Premier League trophy is being paraded pitchside at Etihad Stadium as champions Manchester City prepare to play Chelsea.

It's fair to say Pep Guardiola's side will take a decent stride towards retaining that crown with victory here today.

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Manchester City are unsurprisingly much-changed from the side that beat Swindon in the FA Cup over a week ago.

Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne remain in the starting XI, with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish returning to the side.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Joao Cancelo, De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Grealish, Foden.

Subs: Dias, Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, Steffen, Fernandinho, Mbete-Tabu, McAtee, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand.

There are five changes to the Chelsea side that beat Spurs in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Marcos Alonso, Thiago Silva, N'Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic all start.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Sarr, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso, Ziyech, Pulisic, Lukaku.

Subs: Jorginho, Werner, Loftus-Cheek, Bettinelli, Saul, Barkley, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz.

Team news about to drop...

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says Manchester City are the "benchmark".

"You need to be on your edge and at the very highest level if you want to compete with Manchester City.

"They are the benchmark, they are the best team in England right now. This is something we have to admit realistically."

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