Wednesday 5 April 2017 19:06, UK
Victor Moses remains sidelined for Chelsea as they look to avoid back-to-back home defeats when they host Man City in the Premier League on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm).
The wing-back is suffering with a toe injury and missed the weekend's shock defeat to Crystal Palace, with the Blues looking to get back to winning ways at Stamford Bridge.
They haven't lost consecutive Premier League matches at their home ground since November 2011, when Andre Villas Boas was in charge, while current boss Antonio Conte has not lost successive club league games since he was manager of Atalanta in November 2009.
Man City will also be chasing three points after draws in their last two top-flight outings against Liverpool and Arsenal with the Reds leapfrogging them into third place over the weekend.
Pep Guardiola's men are 11 points behind their midweek opponents but do have a five-point cushion between themselves and fifth-place side Manchester United heading into Wednesday's game.
Moses is one of "two or three situations" to be monitored before the Man City match, according to Blues boss Conte.
Eden Hazard played against Crystal Palace following a calf injury which saw him miss international duty with Belgium, while David Luiz is still managing a knee injury sustained against Man City in December.
Bacary Sagna remains sidelined for Guardiola with an abductor injury and could be out for another few weeks, but Pablo Zabaleta is set to make a return this week after Jesus Navas replaced him at right-back during Sunday's draw with Arsenal.
Gabriel Jesus could also make a comeback before the end of the season after he fractured his metatarsal as he rejoined team training on Monday.
Chelsea haven't lost back-to-back home league games vs the Citizens since December 1983.
Pep Guardiola has never previously lost both league games against a single opponent in a season as a manager in his career so far.
After winning eight Premier League games in a row against Manchester City between 2005 and 2009, the Blues have won just five of their last 15 against them in the top-flight (D3 L7).
There have been four red cards in the last five league meetings between these sides, with three being shown to Man City players.
Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season as City won 3-0 - one of just three opposing players to hit a treble in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge (Kanu in October 1999 and Robin van Persie in October 2011).
Aguero has scored six Premier League goals against Chelsea, with four of those coming at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City have lost just one of their last six Premier League games in London (W3 D2).
Kevin De Bruyne has now assisted 13 goals this season for Man City in all competitions, one more than he managed last season.
I just don't see how Man City are going to contain Chelsea. They're all over the place at the back at the moment. I think Chelsea will bounce back here.
Which Man City are we going to get? The great Man City from the first 15 minutes against Arsenal, where they ripped them to shreds?
I think there is still a title race, because I've got Tottenham to win, and then I fancy them to win again early Saturday against Watford, so that would be four points.
I think the gap will close over the next three or four weeks, but Chelsea to win here.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (16/1 with Sky Bet)
Premier League leaders Chelsea have been priced up by Sky Bet as the 7/5 favourites to win at home to Manchester City on Wednesday night. Antonio Conte's Blues are also on offer at 5/2 in Sky Bet's Correct Score Group Betting to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. City are 19/10 outsiders to return north with three points and the draw is available at 12/5.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa is the 7/2 favourite in Sky Bet's first goalscorer prices and his team-mate Eden Hazard is priced up at 6/1 to open the scoring. The top City contender is Sergio Aguero at 9/2.
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