Chelsea vs. Man City predicted line-ups: £52m striker ready for hosts as champions make five changes
The latest team news and injury updates as Premier League champions Manchester City prepare to face Chelsea on the opening weekend.
Chelsea host champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon it what promises to be one of the most intriguing ties of the Premier League’s opening weekend – while the hosts, under new manager Enzo Maresca, could offer debuts to several of their new summer signings.
After an injury-ravaged 2023/24 season, Chelsea enter the new season with a refreshingly small number of players missing, but will be without at least one key man – and with an enormous and rapidly growing squad at his disposal, Maresca has plenty of big decisions to make before kick-off.
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has more to worry about when it comes to fitness. Several key players were rested for last weekend’s penalty shootout win over cross-city rivals Manchester United after busy summers while there has been a late injury blow for one of their most promising young prospects.
We’ve collected all of the latest team news and injury updates for both teams below and ventured out best guesses at their likely starting elevens – and if you’re looking for some hints ahead of the Fantasy Premier League deadline, don’t forget to check out our resident expert’s regular advice column by clicking here.
Chelsea team news
Despite the sheer size of Maresca’s squad, Chelsea only have one definite absentee for Sunday’s match – club captain Reece James, who is short of full fitness after suffering a minor hamstring injury in pre-season but is also suspended for three league matches due to the red card he was given against Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the last season.
Elsewhere, there are doubts over the readiness of summer signing Omari Kellyman and goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović, although the latter is not expected to be a regular in the matchday squad. Indications from pre-season suggest that Robert Sánchez is likely to take the number one jersey for the opening game, with new arrival Filip Jörgensen on the bench.
Christopher Nkunku, who missed most of his debut season through injury, is likely to start after coming through a full pre-season programme unscathed while Wesley Fofana and Roméo Lavia could be in contention as well. Trevoh Chalobah, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja are all expected to be left out due to ongoing transfer sagas, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Guiu will hope to make their debuts.
Chelsea predicted line-up
Sánchez; Cucurella, Colwill, Fofana, Gusto; Fernández, Caicedo, Nkunku; Mudryk, Palmer, Jackson.
Manchester City team news
The fitness picture is less clear for the reigning champions, who have taken their time easing Phil Foden, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Rodri back into action after their collective run to the final of Euro 2024 – all four were left out of the line-up for the Community Shield. Rodri, at least, will be missing on Sunday, with Guardiola telling reporters that he would have “no chance” to make the squad. Jack Grealish, meanwhile, also missed out due to a muscular injury and is a doubt for the game against Chelsea. Guardiola has said that he is a “maybe” for Sunday’s game but should be back in time to play Ipswich Town next weekend either way.
Elsewhere there was bad news for Norwegian starlet Oscar Bobb, who had been in contention to start after a highly impressive pre-season – Bobb suffered a fractured leg in a non-contact incident during training on Wednesday. Further assessment has revealed that he will be out for three to four months.
That could pave the way for Savinho to make his debut. The Brazilian winger was signed from City Group club Troyes this summer and could get an immediate chance to make an impression. Kevin de Bruyne is expected to start but will likely find his minutes managed more over the course of the new campaign.
Manchester City predicted line-up
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovačić, Silva, De Bruyne; Savinho, Doku, Haaland.