Chelsea vs. Manchester City – EPL, January 3, 2021

Chelsea will be fully aware that Manchester City has not played since Boxing Day because of the postponement of its game against Everton. But if this goes ahead, it should be a well-fought fixture.

Frank Lampard continues to attract criticism for the way his team is playing and will hope that a convincing display here will quiet down those dissenters.

BetOnline expects Manchester City to come away from London with the points but does seem to give Chelsea a chance at home. But with the way the last month or so has gone for both clubs, I think that the most attractive of the options here would be the draw bet.

Frank Lampard seemed to blame his players after the defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Boxing Day, but he must have been more pleased with how they performed against Villa just two days later. The result was not perfect, though – and now he must raise the squad as they go into the new year.

Manchester City is not going to be the easiest way to start things off, but this fixture will be a good test of whether Chelsea is really going to challenge for a top-four finish this season – or whether a run at the Europa League spot should be anticipated. A largely injury-free squad certainly helps the home side.

Pep Guardiola will be dealing with the fall out of the postponement of the Everton game and will be hoping that his players that were suffering from illness have recovered. But there is still no guarantee that he will be able to field a full-strength starting eleven.

If this game does go ahead, then Guardiola will be using the full extent of the squad that has been so expensively assembled. There is still a lot of talent to choose from, of course, but it would not be a surprise he would favor this game being called off as well – especially ahead of FA Cup third-round weekend.

Assuming that this game will take place, it seems as though Manchester City would be content with coming away with a point from Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will want to go for the win, obviously, but a draw would not be a bad result for Frank Lampard’s team either.