Chelsea fired up for City clash
GOING FOR THE KILL Costa talks of ending Manchester outfit’s title challenge with a convincing performance at home
top-scorer Diego Costa believes the Premier League leaders can effectively end Manchester City’s title hopes when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The alternative scenario, that fourth-placed City could win and help Tottenham close the gap at the top to four points, does not bear thinking about for the Spain international.
The hosts are seven points clear of Spurs, and 11 ahead of City, who drew 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday after twice taking the lead. But Saturday’s surprise 2-1 home defeat to lowly Crystal Palace has revived hopes elsewhere that Chelsea could be vulnerable.
That first home defeat since September was also a wake-up call for Antonio Conte’s side, who have looked title certainties.
“Now is not the time to let ourselves down,” Costa, who has scored 17 league goals this season but only four since Christmas, told ESPN Brazil.
“We should keep our heads up and think ahead for the next game since it will be very important. This game against City will be a six-point affair since if we win...they will be out of the race while we keep the advantage.”
Both sides will be looking back to last year for comfort, with Chelsea winning 3-1 at the Etihad in December while City won 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last April against an off-form home side with very little to play for.
Sergio Aguero scored a hattrick then and was also on the scoresheet against Arsenal, with manager Pep Guardiola staying hopeful. “We know what we have to do against Chelsea. We head back to Manchester to prepare and then back down to London,” said the Spaniard, whose side have lost only one of their last six EPL games in London.
Chelsea hope to have wingback Victor Moses back in action after a calf injury ruled him out at the weekend.
At the bottom, Middlesbrough have a basement battle against Hull, who are one place above but four points clear, on Wednesday. Palace travel to Southampton as they seek to edge closer to safety with a fifth successive victory.
the players believe that Chelsea’s defeat at home against Crystal Palace was just a blip. But the rivals would like to believe it could be the start of a trend and that Blues will continue to stutter.
against Man City couldn’t have come at a worse time for Antonio Conte’s side as they look to recover quickly from the setback and keep their title charge alive. A defeat against City will allow second-placed Tottenham to close the gap.
in eight league games, their longest run under Pep Guardiola but half of those matches have been draws.
Chelsea by 11 points, a draw might not be enough for them if they hope to catch the leaders. But if Chelsea show any signs of weakness, Guardiola’s team has the firepower to topple them. Chelsea manager Man City midfielder matches Man City have won off 19 games in all competitions away to Chelsea. They have lost 12 and drawn 5 clean sheets
Chelsea have kept in their last 11 league games. They had recorded 10 shut-outs in the previous 12 matches of Sergio Aguero’s 14 league goals for Man City have come in away fixtures