Alex Jack predicts a win for the hosts over the champions when Chelsea take on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea and Manchester City meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in what should be a cracking Premier League contest.
Chelsea were helped by the indiscipline of Tottenham on Monday night, but that 4-1 victory will have the Blues beaming as they prepare to face the champions.
Man City cruised to a 3-0 Etihad victory over Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday and that followed a 6-1 hammering of Bournemouth in the Premier League.
City are strong favourites to take three points from their trip to west London and Pep Guardiola’s men can be backed at 31/40. Chelsea are 7/2 shots at Stamford Bridge, while the draw is available at 13/5.
Best bets
Chelsea @ 7/2
Over 2.5 goals @ 31/40
Champions could be left feeling blue
The fact that Tottenham were reduced to nine men on Monday night makes it pretty straightforward to dismiss Chelsea’s 4-1 victory, but it could be unwise to play down that one-sided scoreline.
Of course, Monday night’s task was made easier for the Blues after the red cards to Cristian Romero and Iyenoma Udogie, but Chelsea were creating plenty of chances before the first dismissal and the victory should boost the confidence of Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Chelsea have been playing far better than their results suggest and the Blues have won 10 of their 11 Premier League matches on expected goals this season.
Clearly, a lack of quality in front of goal has prevented the Blues from converting the chances that have been created, but striker Nicolas Jackson could kick on after his hattrick against Spurs and summer signing Cole Palmer is beginning to look like the real deal.
Pochettino’s men have struggled to find the net against the weaker Premier League side, but the Stamford Bridge side have shown that they are a force against the top-flight elite.
Chelsea beat Spurs 4-1, they were the better side when taking a point against Arsenal and Liverpool and they have shown enough to suggest they can cause Man City plenty of problems on Sunday.
City are a brilliant team, but they have lost at Arsenal, Newcastle and Wolves this season and they have at times looked a little short of ideas.
Star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne remains out injured and it’s worth remembering that Guardiola also lost Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan in the summer.
Chelsea are 7/2 shots at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and that looks a price with plenty of upside.
Goals could flow at the Bridge
Man City have seen seven of their last eight matches go over the 2.5-goal mark and there have been a total of 17 goals in their last four matches.
There have been 18 strikes in Chelsea’s last five games and the direct forward-thinking approach of Pochettino’s side is unlikely to blink when the champions come to Stamford Bridge.
We saw a crazy, high-scoring and entertaining clash between Spurs and Chelsea on Monday and we may get the same when the Blues take on City this weekend.
Best bets
Chelsea @ 7/2
Over 2.5 goals @ 31/40
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