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Chelsea play host to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on January 3, and it’s expected to be a massive game for the Blues.
Chelsea have a good home record at Stamford Bridge this season, with the Blues having lost just once at home in all competitions – the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Man City has bemoaned the current state of his team, with a huge number expected to miss out having contracted the coronavirus. However, BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson predicting a 2-0 win for Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
He said: “Chelsea have lost their last three away league games – at Everton, Wolves and Arsenal – but their form at Stamford Bridge has been a lot more solid.
“I am still going with a Manchester City win, though. Pep Guardiola’s side are not quite at it, in terms of going forward and opening up teams, but the trade-off for that has been their improvement defensively.
“The feel of the City team is different when they play 4-2-3-1 rather than 4-3-3 but that’s also down to the balance of attacking players in the team as well as their formation.
“Maybe Guardiola felt his side are a little bit weak at the back and wanted that protection but, by addressing that problem, it seems to have made things harder for City at the other end.
“They are still getting results, but it feels more like they are getting them by attrition.”