WHO: Manchester City vs Chelsea
What: Premier League
Where: Etihad Stadium in Manchester, UK
when: Saturday 5:30pm (17:30GMT)
Follow Al Jazeera’s live build-up, followed by our stream of text and photo commentary.

Manchester City’s next two games, in the Premier League and Champions League, have been compared to “finals” by their manager Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea arrive at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday with Holders City 12 points above league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in the chase .

Guardiola’s side added a fifth and two points to the Blues before facing a must-win game at Club Brugge in Belgium UEFA Champions League facial elimination At the first hurdle.

Guardiola told reporters on Friday: “The next two games are really important and the final is with us. Even with the big problems we have had recently, we are close at the table (to Chelsea).”

What happened to Manchester City?

Despite climbing up the Premier League table recently, City are yet to fully emerge from their surprise slide, with Pep Guardiola’s side having just one win from nine games in all competitions at one stage.

Wednesday’s 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain, when they squandered a two-goal lead, left them a game outside of the Champions League playoffs. It has two victories in seven European Olympics.

When pressed on whether City would qualify for next season’s Champions League, which could be achieved by winning this season’s games or finishing in the top four of the Premier League, Guardiola responded: “We can do it. Why should I Different? We’re going to do that. I think that’s going to happen.”

Who are Manchester City’s new January transfer window signings?

Manchester City have embarked on a January spending spree in the transfer window in a bid to reverse the woes of a side that won a fourth consecutive Premier League title last season. Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush both acquired The cost exceeds $150 million.

“Vitor is young, he has a big character and needs time. Of course, if he is with us, he can start,” Guardiola said.

“Khusanov has dealt with the fact that he plays in the French league, dealing with tough, fast, fast players. But he doesn’t speak much English, so communication will be one of the situations we have to deal with.

“Marmoush will adapt quickly. They will make us strong and I’m pretty sure the club decides on potential players for the future and for many years to come.”

introduce @MancityThree new signatures 🆕

Which player will have the biggest impact on Pep Guardiola’s side? pic.twitter.com/laxxra2ynu

– Premier League (@premierleague) January 23, 2025

Friends reunited in canoe as Manchester City entertains Chelsea

Chelsea are managed by Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca, who spent one season with the Spaniard in 2022-2023.

However, this isn’t the first meeting between the two this season. Manchester City won 2-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.

The Blues ended a five-game winning streak without a win in the league, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in their last outing. A barren run put a damper on a strong start to life in London for Maresca, whose side emerged as surprise title contenders before Monday’s victory at Stamford Bridge.

“I knew his (Maresca’s) team from day one, even when we played them in the summer camps in America,” Guardiola said. “I started to see a lot of things and we talked a lot in the last few years. Times. Really good.”

Chelsea manager backs Guardiola’s rebound

Meanwhile, Maresca rallied around Guardiola and said the struggling City boss needed support. “The PEP are strong enough in this kind of thing. But, for sure, like anyone, he needs support at this moment and over the last eight to nine years they have always been on top.”

Maresca says Chelsea will struggle to beat Manchester City despite their hosts’ poor performance. “With this club and these players, when they are in tough moments, they want to show their performance. I don’t think there is a good time to play City,” he said.

“In football, life moments like theirs are normal. Of course, they will be back to winning trophies soon.”

Premier League table after Matchweek 22👀 pic.twitter.com/sprwfxd21f

– Premier League (@premierleague) January 21, 2025

Can Maresca’s Chelsea steal the Premier League title from Manchester City?

Maresca has a long history, having worked at the club as a coach at City before leaving to take the manager’s job at Parma.

After being sacked by the Italian side, he returned to New York City to serve as Guardiola’s assistant when he won the award and says he is forever grateful to the club.

“The relationship I had with PEP and the club was fantastic. I will always be grateful to City for the trust they showed in me because they called me back after the Italian club sacked me two or three months later,” he said. added.

On whether Chelsea are good enough to be considered real title contenders this season, Maresca replied: “No, not the title. If you look at December and January, we are having a tough time.”

Will Chelsea sign UTD’s Garnacho?

The Blues themselves have been linked with a move for Manchester United striker Alejandro Garnacho in the current transfer window, which closes on January 31, with Maresca admitting his “always Looking at the situation”.

In particular, Ganaccio’s move was completely rejected: “No, no. I’m happy with the man at the moment,” said Maresca.

“We said it many times on the right side, it’s Pedro (Neto) and Noni (Madueke), and on the left side it’s Jaden (Sancho). Misha (Mudryk) was with us and is not with us now. Tilik ( George) is a young profile that can help us, so at the moment, we’re OK.”

Chelsea team news

Despite missing a win against Wolves, Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez are expected to be ready.

“Romeo Lavia is out injured and is expected to keep him out again.

Manchester City team news

Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku will both miss the game. The former was replaced by his kidnapper in Paris on Wednesday.

Manchester City’s three new signings are: Mamos, Reese and Kusanov all participated in the lineup for the game.

head to head

It was the 177th meeting in a competition dating back to 1907 and ended in a 2-2 draw in west London.

Manchester City are unbeaten in 10 games against Chelsea, winning eight. The Blues’ last victory was a 1-0 victory in the 2021 Champions League final.

It ended a three-game winning streak for the London club, which included a Premier League victory and a home victory in the FA Cup that season.

Ready? 🫵 pic.twitter.com/sumsgwyflt

– Premier League (@premierleague) January 24, 2025