by Beefymcfc » Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:24 am
From the Beeb.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City's Micah Richards is ruled out with a hamstring injury, leaving manager Roberto Mancini short of options at the back.
Defenders Joleon Lescott and Jerome Boateng are doubts, while winger Shaun Wright-Phillips (knee) is sidelined.
Chelsea midfielder Frank 'The Gimp' Lampard is again unavailable as he continues his recovery from a hernia operation.
Striker Salomon Kalou (thigh) as well as midfielders Yossi Benayoun (calf) and Gael Kakunta (back) are also out.
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Manchester City
Doubtful: Boateng (knee), Lescott (groin)
Injured: Balotelli & Wright-Phillips (both knee), Bridge (thigh), Kolarov & Nimely (both ankle), Richards (hamstring)
Chelsea
Doubtful: Benayoun (calf), Kalou (thigh), Kakuta (back), Lampard (groin)
Injured: Bosingwa (knee)
MATCH PREVIEW
For Chelsea, the hard work begins now. Carlo Ancelotti's champions travel to Manchester City on Saturday having waltzed their way through an opening set of fixtures which proved as straightforward as they appeared on paper.
It is an important test for us, but it is also an important test for them. We have not played against the top teams but we are playing well. It is necessary for us to do it against the top teams
It says much for the supposed competitiveness of the Premier League that victories so far over West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham (all the shit teams) and Sunday's 4-0 hammering of Blackpool (eveb shitter) have hardly stretched the champions. Ancelotti's side have plundered an average of 4.2 goals per game and conceded just once in a perfect start.
The marker laid down, now comes the first real test. Roberto Mancini's City side are yet to gel, but Ancelotti knows better than to underestimate his compatriot. The two managers know each other well from their playing days in Serie A and the Italian national team. Their subsequent moves into management also saw them cross swords in the Milan derby, where Mancini had the edge over Ancelotti with four wins to two in the league as Inter claimed three successive Serie A crowns.
Both clubs suffered Carling Cup disappointments in midweek, but their team selections confirmed that priorities lie elsewhere. For City, a top-four finish is the minimum requirement. A victory over Chelsea would move them to within four points of the London club and confirm their progress under Mancini.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• City had only won two out of 24 Premier League meetings with Chelsea before beating the Blues home and away last season.
• No other team has won more Premier League games at Manchester City than Chelsea (10 wins).
Manchester City
• City have only won three of their last 10 Premier League matches.
• They have failed to score in five of their last 10 league games.
• Carlos Tevez has scored 24 goals in his last 28 Premier League outings and five in his last four against Chelsea.
Cheslea
• Chelsea have scored 54 goals in their last 13 Premier League games, and have conceded just five.
• Salomon Kalou has scored eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances, despite starting just five of those matches.
• Didier Drogba has assisted five goals this season, a league high, and scored five.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Manchester City
Tevez: 3 goals (3 league); Jo: 2 goals (0 league)
Chelsea
Malouda: 6 goals (6 league); Anelka: 6 goals (2 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Phil Sharp & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Chris Foy
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Manchester City (W2-0 v Wigan, a): Hart, Richards, Kompany, Toure, Zabaleta, De Jong, Toure Yaya (Jo 74), Barry, Silva (Adam Johnson 72), Milner, Tevez (Wright-Phillips 88). Subs Not Used: Given, Santa Cruz, Vieira, Boyata.
Chelsea (W4-0 v Blackpool, h): Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Alex (Bruma 71), Cole, Essien, Mikel (Benayoun 77), Ramires (Zhirkov 74), Kalou, Drogba, Malouda. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Sturridge, Anelka, Kakuta.
In the words of my Old Man, "Life will never be the same without Man City, so get it in while you can".
The Future's Bright, The Future's Blue!!!