The Tactics

Alex Keble looks at how the tactical battle between Frank Lampard and Pep Guardiola will be played out in Manchester City's clash with Chelsea.

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Pundits' predictions

The Soccer Saturday panel make their predictions for Saturday's big Premier League game as Manchester City play Chelsea at the Etihad.

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Nothing certain for title-chasing Reds

Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson says it's too early to crown the Reds as Premier League champions, and sets out his plan for them to end their long title drought.

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Opta stats

• Manchester City have won five of their last eight Premier League meetings with Chelsea (L3), as many as they had in their previous 21 against them in the competition (W5 D4 L12).
• Chelsea have lost three of their last four Premier League away games against Man City (W1), including suffering their biggest ever defeat in the competition in this exact fixture last season (0-6).
• This is just the fifth time in the last nine seasons that Manchester City are facing Chelsea in a Premier League game while below them in the table – the Citizens haven’t won any of the previous four in that time (D2 L2).
• Manchester City have already lost three Premier League games this season – just one fewer than they did in the whole of 2018-19, and one more than they did in 2017-18.
• Chelsea are looking to win eight consecutive away games in all competitions for the first time in their history.
• Manchester City (19) are the highest home goalscorers in the Premier League this season, while Chelsea (18) have scored more on the road than any other side. The Blues have scored at least twice in their last five away league games, last having a longer such run in December 2008 (7).
• In his entire managerial career, only against Liverpool (5) has Man City boss Pep Guardiola lost more games in all competitions than he has against Chelsea (4).
• Man City striker Sergio Agüero has scored more Premier League goals against Chelsea than any other player in the competition’s history (10). The Argentine has netted eight goals in his last six against the Blues, including a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season.
• Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic has scored five goals in his last three Premier League games, and is looking to become the first ever American player to score in four consecutive appearances in the competition.
• Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham has scored the first goal in five different Premier League games this season, at least two more than any other player. The England forward is also the highest away scorer in the league in 2019-20, netting as many or more goals on the road than 15 of the other 19 clubs in the division (7).

Podcast: Premier League weekly

We may have been without top-flight action last weekend but there's still plenty to discuss in the latest episode of our Premier League Weekly podcast.

Tom Carnduff, Paul Higham and George Pitts dissect England's performance in their European Championship qualification group, alongside those nations that have caught the eye over the international break.

We look ahead to the latest round of Premier League games, where Manchester City's clash with Chelsea is the headline act. Pep Guardiola's side will know the latest situation with Liverpool facing Crystal Palace at 3pm.

There's plenty of pressure around the league currently with five managers potentially facing the sack. We look at huge games between Arsenal and Southampton alongside West Ham's meeting with Tottenham.

All that and much more in the latest episode!

Listen:

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• Jose's new job spec at Spurs
• Can Jose get the job done?
• Where next for Pochettino?
• Poch's highs and lows at Spurs
• Poch sacked: The reaction
• Listen: Premier League Weekly