Chelsea head to Manchester City after a turbulent start to 2026 with Enzo Maresca sacked and the project thrown into serious doubt.
As the Blues search for a new manager, with Calum McFarlane serving as their interim boss, Pep Guardiola’s City aim to keep in touch with Premier League leaders Arsenal, who stretched their lead to four points earlier this week.
City’s stalemate with Sunderland has given Mikel Arteta’s side a cushion, but with the Blues struggling, having failed to win any of their last three in the league, including the 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth last time out, they risk losing more ground in the fight to finish inside the top four.
A 3-1 win for City in their last meeting in January last year extended a winless run for the Blues against their rivals to 11 games since victory in the Champions League final in Porto in 2021.
Here’s everything you need to know about the clash at the Etihad Stadium
When is Man City v Chelsea?
The Premier League clash between Man City and Chelsea kicks off at 5:30pm GMT on 4 Sunday January at the Etihad Stadium.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the match on television with Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League and find a live online stream through Sky Go and Sky Go Extra. Coverage starts at 5pm GMT.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Confirmed line-ups
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland.
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; Fernandez, James; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro.
Team news
Pep Guardiola has made just three changes to the side that drew to Sunderland last time out. In defence, Josko Gvardiol returns in place of Nathan Ake, while key midfielder Rodri takes the place of the injured Nico Gonzalez in the middle of the park.
Savinho makes way for Tijjani Reijnders in the final change, with the Dutchman in midfield and Phil Foden moving into a more advanced role.
Interim Chelsea boss Calum McFarlane has made five changes to the side that drew to Bournemouth in midweek.
In goal, Robert Sanchez makes way for Filip Jorgensen, with the Spaniard not even on the bench for the Blues. In defence, Wesley Fofana comes out for Benoit Badiashile, with the Frenchman also not on the subs bench.
Reece James partners Enzo Fernandez in midfield in the absence of the suspended Moises Caicedo, while Pedro Neto is preferred to Alejandro Garnacho on the wing and Liam Delap makes way for Joao Pedro up top.
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