The last time Chelsea won against Manchester City was in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final. This time, a managerless Blues side travels to the Etihad Stadium to face a City team looking to maintain momentum at the top.

It's Premier League action on Sunday, January 4, 2026, as Manchester City hosts Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola will aim to continue his side's strong recent record against the Blues, who are now without the manager who brought them recent continental success.

 

📈Team Form📉

 

🔹 Manchester City: Positioned near the top, coming off a goalless draw against Sunderland.

🔸 Chelsea: Fifth in the table, winless in their last three Premier League games.

 

📊Key Stats & Head-to-Head 📊

 

🔥 Manchester City have won three consecutive matches against Chelsea.

🔥 Sergio Aguero is the all-time leading goalscorer in this fixture.

🔥 Chelsea's last victory over Manchester City was in the 2021 UCL final.

🔥 In 173 total meetings, Chelsea have 67 wins to City's 66, with 40 draws.

 

🔬 What to Expect From Both Teams 🔥

 

🔵Manchester City | All Competitions Form: W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢D🟡:

 

Pep Guardiola's side will be eager to return to winning ways after being held by Sunderland. With key players returning from injury, they will be confident at the Etihad.

They have a dominant recent record against Chelsea and will look to control the game from the outset, exploiting the uncertainty in the visiting camp.

 

⚫Chelsea | All Competitions Form: W🟢W🟢D🟡L🔴D🟡:

 

The Blues enter a new era following the departure of their trophy-winning manager, arriving on the back of a defeat to Aston Villa and a draw with Bournemouth.

With morale potentially fragile, their focus will be on organisational solidity. They will need to defy recent history and their poor form to get a result against the reigning champions.

 

👥 Predicted Lineups 👥

 

🔵Manchester City (possible):

Donnarumma (GK), Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Silva, Gonzalez, Foden, Doku, Cherki, Haaland.

 

⚫Chelsea (possible):

Sánchez (GK), James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto, Caicedo, Fernández, Estevão, Palmer, Neto, Pedro.

 

🔥 Matchups & Players to Watch 👀

 

✨ Foden — The English midfielder is set to feature in a big game he is typically known for showing up in.

✨ Trevoh Chalobah — The defender has scored three goals this term and will be key for Chelsea at both ends of the pitch.

✨ Erling Haaland — The City striker will be the constant threat for a Chelsea side winless in three.

 

💵 Odds Market on MSport 💵

 

💵 Man City/Home to win = 1.70

💵 Chelsea/Away to win = 4.87

💵 Both teams to score (GG/NG Yes) = 1.57

💵 Over 2.5 total goals = 1.52

 

This clash presents a stark contrast: a dominant Manchester City side at home faces a Chelsea team in transition and struggling for form.

With history heavily favouring the hosts, the Etihad is set for a potentially one-sided Premier League encounter.

Who do you think will take the points? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

 

 

 

🔗 You can follow the Manchester City vs Chelsea game here on MSport.

 

#ManCity #Chelsea #PremierLeague #Guardiola #Etihad #Pep #Haaland #Palmer #Foden #EPL

 

The last time these teams met in early December, Manchester City secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Etihad.

This Thursday, the context shifts as an in-form City side travels to face a Sunderland team that remains undefeated at the Stadium of Light this season.

It's a Premier League clash on Thursday, January 1, 2026, as Pep Guardiola's men look to maintain pressure on league leaders Arsenal, while Regis Le Bris's Sunderland aim to prove their top-seven place is no fluke.

 

📈Team Form📉

🏠🔴 Sunderland: Seventh in the Premier League with 28 points from 18 matches.

✈️🔵 Manchester City: Second in the Premier League table with 40 points.

 

📊Key Stats & Head-to-Head 📊

 

🔥 Manchester City are on a six-match Premier League winning streak.

🔥 Sunderland are unbeaten in nine league games at the Stadium of Light this season.

🔥 Man City have won their last seven Premier League matches against Sunderland.

🔥 City have won 19 of the 26 Premier League meetings between these sides.

 

🔬 What to Expect From Both Teams 🔥

 

🏠Sunderland | Form: W🟢D🟡L🔴W🟢D🟡D🟡

Defying all preseason expectations, Sunderland have been a tough team to break down, especially at home. They have already held Aston Villa and Arsenal to draws at the Stadium of Light.

Their challenge will be coping with significant absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations duty, which will test their squad depth against the reigning champions.

 

🌫️Manchester City | Form: W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢

City are in ominous form and have solidified their challenge on all fronts. A victory on Wearside could see them close the gap at the top of the table to just two points.

Pep Guardiola's side combines tactical astuteness with a clinical edge and will be confident of extending their winning run, despite acknowledging the tough test Sunderland presents.

 

👥 Predicted Lineups 👥

 

🏠Sunderland (possible):

Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Rigg, Le Fee, Adingra, Brobbey.

 

✈️Manchester City (possible):

Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Haaland.

 

🔥 Matchups & Players to Watch 👀

 

✨ Erling Haaland — The league's top scorer aims to find the net on his first Premier League visit to the Stadium of Light.

✨ Rayan Cherki — The French playmaker is City's joint-leading assist provider and has been in outstanding creative form.

✨ Wilson Isidor — With three of his four league goals coming at home, he is Sunderland's most likely scoring threat.

✨ Granit Xhaka — His experience and set-piece delivery will be crucial for the Black Cats.

 

💵 Odds Market on MSport 💵

 

💵 Sunderland/Home to win = 7.79

💵 Manchester City/Away to win = 1.43

💵 Both teams to score (GG/NG Yes) = 1.91

💵 Over 2.5 total goals = 1.66

 

This clash presents a battle of resilience versus momentum: a confident City side, with a superb winning run, faces a stubborn Sunderland team determined to protect its formidable home record.

With history heavily favouring the visitors but the hosts full of belief, the Stadium of Light is set for a compelling New Year's Day fixture.

Who do you think will take the points? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

 

🔗 You can follow the Sunderland vs Manchester City game here on MSport.

 

#Sunderland #ManCity #Manchester #City #EPL #PremierLeague #LeBris #Guardiola #StadiumOfLight #Haaland #Pep #Berando #Cherki #Foden #Xhaka