Chelsea v Manchester City, Premier League: Where to Watch Live, Preview and Team News

Follow live coverage of Chelsea v Manchester City here

Chelsea host Manchester City in a crucial Premier League fixture for both sides at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 4pm GMT. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky 3D.

Overview

Chelsea have been there and thereabouts this season without taking the Premier League by storm since Jose Mourinho's second homecoming.

The Blues have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions, since their surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of Champions League side Basel in the group stages.

The Blues have drawn two and lost one of their last eight games and a win here will take them above Liverpool into second position which will give them a platform as the race for the Premier League title tightens up.

They come into the game on the back of a brilliant 3-0 win over FC Schalke in the Champions League and will be brimming with confidence against a City side who have not always looked comfortable playing away from home.

However, Mourinho's side have taken only 2 points from their two real tests thus far, against Manchester United and Tottenham, and will be looking to announce themselves in the title race with a win against the favourites.

Manchester City enter the game on the back of a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League but the win was overshadowed by allegations of racist chanting directed at Yaya Toure by the Russian fans. Pellegrini will want to leave any controversy behind as they look to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, who are currently six points ahead, having played a game more.

The Citizens are the top scorers in the league this season, with 20 goals, joint top with the Gunners, and have already beaten Manchester United 4-1 at the Etihad, a display that showcased their potential. Now they need to add consistency.

City will certainly miss the injured Vincent Kompany at the heart of their defence, and with stand-in right-footed central defender Martin Demichelis also injured, Pellegrini faces a choice in the position between midfielder Javi Garcia and the left-sided Joleon Lescott. To the mystification of many City fans, Pellegrini has opted not to play Micah Richards in central defence, or give Dedryck Boyata a first-team chance.

What the Managers Say

Jose Mourinho: "Everybody knows they lost a couple of games that, normally, they wouldn't. That's football. We lost against Everton, and United lost to West Brom, Spurs to West Ham, Arsenal to Villa. Everybody is losing matches, some of them unexpectedly."

Manuel Pellegrini: "I think they are more complete than they were last season - they are always a threat, especially on their own pitch and, with Jose Mourinho returning, that's even more the case so we will have to be at our best if we are to get a good result."

Form Guide

Chelsea