Game Week 23 Predictions: Both teams to score at the Etihad

Manchester City and Chelsea battle for fourth place in this crucial Premier League clash, with both teams struggling to find consistency this season.

It's the battle of two struggling giants at the Etihad on Saturday, which of them will wake up to this one? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 Manchester City vs Chelsea

Etihad Stadium

6:30 pm

It’s a strange feeling that it’s a fixture between Manchester City and Chelsea, and the feeling around it isn’t reflecting the size of the teams. Both sides have fallen off badly this season that it’s more of a top four battle than anything else.

Manchester City led 2-0 in the first half of their Champions League game against PSG in Paris but managed to concede four second-half goals to lose the game, leaving them completely out of the top 24 and in danger of crashing out of the tournament.

It was the ninth time this season that the 2023 European champions will drop points from winning positions, and if they don’t beat Club Brugge on Wednesday next week, they will suffer their biggest humiliation since Pep Guardiola took over.

Chelsea can look at their season so far and be proud; from the abyss of the summer to temporarily fighting for the title, they’re now in fourth and can look up from here, but can you trust them to go on and string wins together?

Chelsea’s likeliest route to a trophy this season is in the Conference League, where they’re bossing it; however, their recent form suggests they can lose steam there too. The Blues must get a grip and find solutions to their recent dip.

Both sides have been active in the transfer window. Manchester City has spent upwards of 100m to bring in three new players, although they bade farewell to Kyle Walker, who has gone to AC Milan, while Chelsea has loaned out a couple of players while still looking for an exit for Christopher Nkunku.

Cole Palmer is the man to watch in this game. The former Manchester City star hasn’t been in his best form recently, but this is one fixture in which he can level up and take advantage of Manchester City’s fragility at the back.

Erling Haaland was among the goals last weekend, but it was Phil Foden who stole the spotlight. Will he continue with his scoring form against Chelsea? Kevin De Bruyne and the new recruits are the other players to look out for; Guardiola confirmed they will all have a part to play in the game.

It’s a straight penalty shootout for the fourth spot. A draw is more like it for either side, but whoever wins gets to sit in fourth at the end of the weekend. It’s a game that can go either way, but the champions won the reverse fixture in August. Can Maresca repay the favour against his old master?

Verdict: Both teams to score.