An enormous matchup in the early-season title race could see a serious shift in either direction with a result for one side or the other.
Defending champions Manchester City host table-toppers Chelsea at the Etihad at 10am ET live on NBC or live online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
A win for the visitors, who have taken the Premier League by storm thus far and haven’t dropped a single point, would see the Blues go five points clear at the top of the table, a massive margin for such an early stage in the year.
However, victory for the home side would bring them within two of their opponents at the top and would signal a true challenge for title defense.
WATCH: Live online at NBC Sports Live Extra
After announcing Diego Costa could only play one match a week thanks to his cranky hamstring, Jose Mourinho starts his Brazilian striker against last year’s title winners.
Both sides struggled midweek with their Champions League matchups, as City slumped to a late defeat against giants Bayern Munich, while Chelsea disappointingly drew with Schalke, a team they’ve dominated in the past.
Manuel Pellegrini has made the rare move of sticking Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko up front together, with David Silva and the out-of-form Yaya Toure in midfield. Samir Nasri is on the bench, along with Chelsea legend Frank Lampard who reportedly told his new club he didn’t want to play against the Blues.
LINEUPS:
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov; Milner, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva; Aguero, Dzeko.
Bench: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Clichy, Lampard, Nasri, Navas.
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Bench: Cech, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Oscar, Schurrle, Remy, Drogba.
