A showdown is looming at Stamford Bridge when EPL giants Chelsea host rivals Manchester City in a Premier League hotly contested match. Graham Potter's side last time out settled for a point after they drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest while the visitors were held to a two-goal stalemate by Everton. The duel comes just three days before the two clubs meet again but this time round in the FA Cup elimination rounds. Both teams are aiming to bag their first wins of the year after posting a paltry point in the round of New Year's Eve/New Year's Day fixtures. A trip to the City Ground did at least allow the Blues to snap their dire three-game losing run on the road in all competitions but the traveling brigade only had a bizarre Raheem Sterling goal to cheer before Serge Aurier expertly volleyed home a deserved leveler for Nottingham Forest. 

Potter acknowledged that the nature of his team's performance at the City Ground left him "worried," but all it takes is one glance at the Premier League standings to add to his misery: the Blues are currently languishing in ninth position, below West London rivals Brentford and Fulham. Currently, seven points separate Chelsea from a place in the top four. Potter is attempting to improve his team's meager record of just one victory in the last seven Premier League games, despite the fact that only Arsenal, who are now in the first place, have defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this season. 

Traveling to West London with no clean sheets to boast from their last four Premier League contests, Manchester City will be aiming to breach the gap between them and runaway league leaders Arsenal and only a win can assure them of that. Failure to overcome the Toffees saw Man City enter the New Year a whopping seven points behind Arsenal in the table. The gap has, however, increased to eight after the Gunners managed a point in their fixture against Newcastle. However, City will be encouraged by their record of one away defeat from their most recent 25 in the top flight. Just before the World Cup, Man City eliminated Chelsea from the EFL Cup with a 2-0 victory in the third round. Both Premier League meetings between the two sides in the 2021-22 campaign ended in 1-0 victories in favor of Man City.