Premier League Preview: Chelsea vs Manchester City - Analysis and Insights

The mouth-watering fixture of the first weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season sees a turbulent Chelsea take on a Manchester City side looking to win their fifth league title on the bounce at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are looking to gel a host of new arrivals into something of a cohesive unit early on in the season, while Manchester City have kept much the same squad from last season, only lacking the presence of Julian Alvarez from last season's squad.

A list of Chelsea’s 43 first-team players (and quite a few more)...

Goalkeepers
🇪🇸 Robert Sanchez (26)
🇸🇪/🇩🇰 Filip Jorgensen (22)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Marcus Bettinelli (32)
🇷🇸 Djordje Petrovic (24)
🇫🇮 Lucas Bergstrom (21)
🇺🇸 Gabriel Slonina* (20)
🇪🇸 Kepa Arrizabalaga (29)

Defenders
🇫🇷 Axel… pic.twitter.com/zJneZFpc5L

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 15, 2024

As the headline game of the weekend approaches, we take a dive into both sides, examining potential strategies, players and absences that could have a significant bearing on the game and end result.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Pre-season Form

Home side Chelsea had what could be described as a difficult pre-season. One of the many sides to tour the USA for their warm up fixtures, they played a total of six fixtures, and emerged with just one victory.

They kicked things off with a 2-2 draw to League One new boys and Hollywood owned Wrexham, before folding to a well drilled Celtic side in a 4-1 defeat.

Their first and only win came in their next game against Club America, a game in which Chelsea showed flashes of the potential that both their squad and manager possess, as Nkunku and Madueke penalties sandwiched a Marc Guiu header.

This is spurs yesterday, no meltdown just a normal pre season loss. Chelsea lose and everything’s over apparently https://t.co/UG2NeyCJLF pic.twitter.com/pqs7dxNWgE

— Rhys (@rhystakes) August 4, 2024

Chelsea faced Manchester City in an audition for their league opener, and promptly trailed 4-0 before the hour mark, although late Sterling and Madueke goals made the scoreline look a little more respectable.

Real Madrid and Inter Milan were their last two opponents, and despite losing against the Spaniards and drawing 1-1 to Inter at the Bridge, Chelsea showed a little bit more about them, and their performances were certainly more organized than those in early pre-season.

City also had a somewhat rocky pre-season, although this can be attributed to their significant lack of first team players for much of the warm up period, as they recovered from the respective international campaigns with their nations over the summer.

Losing to Celtic 4-3 and AC Milan 3-2, and Barcelona in a penalty shootout, they certainly showed they still had goals in them, but their throw together defense left much to be desired. However, a positive that came from these games was Haaland performing like he didn’t have an off-season, scoring against both Celtic and Milan.

Their only pre-season win was in fact against Chelsea, surely something that will be perceived as a good omen for their first league fixture, and Haaland once again stamped his mark, scoring twice.

City have also played their first competitive game of the season, in the traditional curtain raiser that is the Community Shield, beating neighbors Manchester United in a penalty shootout after a late equalizer from Bernardo Silva leveled the game at 1-1.

While both had poor pre-season campaigns, City will take many positives from their comprehensive victory over Chelsea, and will come into the game knowing that they currently have the upper hand, after being held to a draw both times that met in the league last campaign.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Goal Scorers

For City, there is only one man that can be talked about here. After Norway failed to qualify for Euro 2024, Erling Haaland had the best part of two months to get himself in the best possible shape for the new season, a task he apparently took to with great vigor.

Scoring five goals in four friendlies, he seems to have continued where he left off last season, and should that form continue, many will be discussing whether this is the final form of Erling Haaland, or whether he somehow still has higher levels to aspire to.

5️⃣ goals in pre-season for @ErlingHaaland! ☄️ pic.twitter.com/h0q9xlFFmt

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 3, 2024

Chelsea’s goal scoring situation is considerably less clear cut. Former City boy Cole Palmer topped the charts by some distance last season, scoring 22 goals in the Premier league and finishing second only behind Haaland. However, after such an outrageous first season of Premier League football, it remains to be seen whether he can repeat the form that stunned the country last campaign.

Cole Palmer in full flow 🥶 pic.twitter.com/boOCy7OEai

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 2, 2024

Nicholas Jackson was Chelsea's only out and out striker last season, and finished behind Palmer in the standings with 14 league goals. While Jackson undoubtedly has the potential to be some player, his inconsistency in front of goal has led Chelsea to target other center forwards this summer, with Victor Osimhen’s name currently being bounced around the rumor mill.

Young Barcelona forward Marc Guiu was also bought in this summer, the 18-year-old Spaniard looks likely to be loaned out to develop further in order to be able to adapt to the English top flight efficiently when he is eventually brought into the first team.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Head to Head

While Chelsea managed to avoid defeat in their two league meetings last season, they were also pitched against the Cityzens in the FA Cup semi-final, and on that occasion, the Sky Blues were not to be denied. While both have high quality squads, expect City to dominate this fixture once again.

Last five results between the two (competitive only:

• 20/04/2024: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City.
• 17/02/2024: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea.
• 12/11/2023: Chelsea 4-4 Manchester City.
• 21/05/2023: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea.
• 08/01/2023: Manchester City 4-0 Chelsea.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Team News

Both teams suffered injuries towards the end of pre-season. Reece James has been hit with another injury set-back, as he tweaked his hamstring in training earlier on this week. Injured or fit, it wouldn’t have made a difference, as the English right back is suspended for the first two games of the season anyway after a straight red against Brighton in the penultimate game of last season.

City have also been affected, as Oscar Bobb was ruled out for 3-5 months earlier this week after breaking his leg in training. After a superb pre-season, in which he scored twice and assisted four times, the young winger has been unbelievably unfortunate to suffer such a severe injury so close to the first matchday of the season.

🚨🔵 Bad news for Man City as Oscar Bobb has fractured a bone in his leg.

He’ll be out for several months as Man City sources confirm, per @Jack_Gaughan. pic.twitter.com/LGZUIYUnCT

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2024

Jack Grealish is also a doubt, after picking up a minor injury in the build up to the Community Shield, but even so, Pep Guardiola has more than enough wingers to create a dangerous attacking unit.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen (GK), Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Enzo, Dewsbury-Hall, Palmer, Nkunku, Sterling, Jackson.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson (GK), Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, O'Reilly, Silva, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Player to Watch

We all know what Manchester City and their players are capable of, and everything that could surprise has already happened. Chelsea however are still something of an unknown quantity.

There could be as many as five names in the Blues’ starting lineup that many fans have seen little of, including signings that were brought in last season. Fofana, Nkunku and Colwill all had limited minutes last season due to injury last season, and should they remain fit this campaign, they could almost be compared to new signings for Chelsea, depending on the impact they have.

Summer signings Dewsbury-Hall and Filip Jorgensen are also set to make their debut for the club, while another injury ravaged player in former City youth graduate Romeo Lavia could make a cameo off the bench. Pedro Neto could also make his club debut from the bench after his big money move from Wolves.

A look at Chelsea's summer signings so far... 👀🔵 pic.twitter.com/eYZqLsjBRy

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 12, 2024

Of course, keep an eye on Manchester City’s players, as there are an abundance of names that could be worth watching closely, but there is good reason why many are curious to see how this oversized Chelsea squad lineup, and how they perform together.

Where can I watch Chelsea vs Manchester City?

The game will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Premier League, and for those without access to that channel, live text commentary will be available on BBC Sport, and any live scores app you choose to use.