City plan to prove a point in Chelsea showdown
MANCHESTER City will aim to prove their hectic schedule will not stop them winning the Premier League when leaders Chelsea visit Eastlands for a enthralling showdown today.
City are one point behind Chelsea heading into the first meeting this season between two teams who have quickly emerged as leading title contenders under their new managers.
While City featuring in a title battle only five months into Pep Guardiola’s reign is hardly a surprise given the club’s financial muscle and their Spanish manager’s impeccable CV, Chelsea’s presence at the top of the table is more unexpected.
The Blues were in turmoil last season after Jose Mourinho was sacked, but former Italy and Juventus coach Antonio Conte has teased out renewed focus and passion from a squad of fragile egos and the results have been impressive.
Three points in Manchester would take Chelsea to eight consecutive league victories for the first time since 2010.
However, City have lost just one of their last 15 league games and have a point to prove about the rivals’ differing schedules.
While third-placed City have had the pressure of trying to qualify from a tough Champions League group, Chelsea have enjoyed the luxury of extra rest due to their failure to qualify for European competition.
“We’ll have played eight more games, terrible games in the Champions League than Chelsea and Liverpool and we are there,” Guardiola said.
“That’s why the first part of the season is so satisfying.
“To still be with Liverpool and Chelsea when they don’t play in Europe is good for us.”
However, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois played down the title implications of the result today.
While beating City would be a morale boost, Courtois says it is just as important for Chelsea to show their ruthless streak in the following fixtures against West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke.
“Now we are going to Man City to try and get another result and then the next away games are at Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
“It is games like those that decide if you are going to be champions or not,” Courtois said.
A draw at Eastlands would give second-placed Liverpool the chance to go top if they win at Bournemouth tommorrow.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches and the German said: “It’s a good moment but it’s difficult too because there’s a lot of work to do and a lot of games to play.
“We go now to Bournemouth, a small stadium, but very intense with a good team.”
Arsene Wenger is confident fourth-placed Arsenal will get back on track after their surprise League Cup exit when they face West Ham.
Wenger’s side were beaten 2-0 at home by Southampton in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, while West Ham also crashed out of the competition with a 4-1 thrashing at Manchester United.
Looking for a quick recovery, Wenger is confident Arsenal will banish the memory of the Cup disappointment, which ended their 19game unbeaten run in all competitions.
“I don’t think I can moan about the momentum in the Premier League,” he said. “
“It was more disappointing lose the gamee.”
Manchester United travel to Everton aiming to maintain the momentum of their midweek victory. Fixtures: Today: Crystal Palace v Southampton, Manchester City v Chelsea, Stoke v Burnley, Sunderland v Leicester, Tottenham v Swansea, West Brom v Watford, West Ham v Arsenal. Tomorrow: Bournemouth v Liverpool, Everton v Manchester United. Monday: Middlesbrough v Hull. — AFP to