Game Week 19 Predictions: Can Chelsea stop City in Sterling's derby?

In Raheem Sterling's first game against his old employers, how will Chelsea fare against the champions? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Chelsea vs Manchester City

Stamford Bridge Stadium

9:00pm

It’s a dire time for Chelsea and word on the street is that Graham Potter will be fired if he doesn’t turn things around sooner than later; while it’s been established that firing a manager isn’t a silver bullet to success, Chelsea doesn’t care about all that.

The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day and that has called for concerns considering how Chelsea played in the second half. In no universe should Chelsea be struggling to dispatch Forest, no disrespect to the new boys.

Manchester City can cut the gap at the top to five points if they do what is expected of them here which is to take the hosts to the cleaners. The champions are stronger on paper but they’ve always struggled in fixtures like this.

How will this pan out? It’s a tricky tie considering where they both are. Arsenal dropped points on Tuesday at home to Newcastle but they still lead the log by eight points; if City doesn’t capitalize on that, it gives the Gunners extra cushion at the top.

Chelsea on their own part currently sits in tenth, three points off Liverpool in the sixth, and ten points off Manchester United in fourth, there’s only one way for them to stop the talks of a potential collapse, beat the champions, and spring from there.

FA Cup duties got the weekend so, it’s a good time to take strong points into the cup weekend; the Blues are frantically looking to sign new players with talks of a deal for World Cup young player of the year Enzo Fernandes hitting the rocks over player valuation.

City will be the favorite to win this but Chelsea can shock them. Both have the materials to pull this off and it will be down to who wants it more. It will be a game of lots of chances as both can’t afford to sit deep and form low blocks.

City’s last game against Everton proved things can go wrong even when you’re at the top of your game; one swift counterattack and ended to be a goal against Pep Guardiola’s side. Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne will handle lots of things but can Chelsea stop them?

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang's situation is beginning to call for concerns, he’s yet to set the premier league ablaze again and Chelsea may be seeking to bring in another forward in his stead. Sterling scored the last time but he’s been off-color too. Who will shine for the Blues when the Cityzens come to town?

Verdict: Manchester City to win