While Manchester City may have come from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the Etihad back in November, Frank Lampard’s side smashed a record that Pep Guardiola would have no doubt been upset by.
Chelsea were the first team to come up against a Guardiola team – yes, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich – to have more possession.
Overall Chelsea had 53% of the ball, a figure that had been close to 60% in the first half, and Guardiola was typically spiky when asked about it afterwards.
“There is always one thing in your lifetime that hasn’t happened,” he said. “It happened. So, OK, I have another record, I won one game without possession. They are an incredible team with Kante, Kovacic, Jorginho, so it can happen.”
Something similar will be required at Stamford Bridge tonight if the Blues are to strengthen their grip on the top four, while also handing Liverpool a title that has been inevitable for six months.
If City’s European ban is upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – a judgment is expected in July – then fifth spot will be good enough for next season’s Champions League.
However, with Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers looking sharp since the return, Lampard will be determined not to offer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Nuno Espirito Santo any advantage.
United, who have beaten Chelsea three times this season, are two points behind the Blues having outclassed Sheffield United 3-0 on Wednesday evening.
Wolves trail United on goal difference following a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth. The Black Country side must come to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won the early season meeting at Molineux 5-2.
