| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
MANCHESTER CITY  HartRichards, Kolo Toure, Lescott, Clichy Yaya Toure, BarrySilva, Aguero, Nasri Balotelli | CHELSEA  CechIvanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole Lampard, Essien Sturridge, Mata, RamiresDrogba |
Carlos Tevez could complete his surprise Premier League return on Wednesday from the substitutes' bench. The Argentine is unlikely to start though, given that he has only played in two games for the reserve team thus far.
Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta are unlikely to return in time for this fixture but the City defence could be boosted if Joleon Lescott becomes available after a groin strain. If not, Stefan Savic should continue alongside Kolo Toure.
Gareth Barry is also in contention for a place in the starting XI – he should be ready to play following a back injury – but faces competition for his spot in the form of Nigel de Jong and David Pizarro.
Roberto Di Matteo is likely to stick with the Chelsea side that beat Napoli 4-1 in the Champions League. Fernando Torres' two goals in the FA Cup will have put him in his manager's thoughts but Didier Drogba will probably get the nod here.
The Blues have no fresh fitness concerns and so remain injury and suspension free.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Manchester City have not lost at home to Chelsea since September 2008, although they have suffered two consecutive defeats at Stamford Bridge.
- City will be looking for their 15th home league win of the season on Wednesday, which would leave them four victories away from a perfect record at the Etihad Stadium.
- Only one team, Tottenham, have scored more than one goal when visiting Manchester City in the Premier League this season, although Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon have done so in cup competitions.
- Three players – Sergio Aguero (23, pictured right), Edin Dzeko (18) and Mario Balotelli (15) – have outscored Chelsea's top goal scorer, Frank Lampard, who has 13 goals in all competitions.
- Carlos Tevez will be looking to add to an impressive City goal scoring record of his own. The 28-year-old scored 19 goals in 63 league games for Manchester United but improved dramatically on that figure upon joining City; he has scored 44 in 69 for them so far in the Premier League.
- Chelsea have won all four of their matches since the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, scoring 12 goals and conceding three.
- Their current run is their first four match unbeaten run since they beat West Brom in their second fixture of the season to trigger a similar streak of victories.
- Ominously, that four match winning run ended in Manchester – the Blues suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford.
- Fernando Torres scored twice against Leicester City in the FA Cup on Sunday to end a run of 1566 minutes without a goal for Chelsea. His last strike came against Genk in the Champions League in October.
- Torres hasn't scored in the Premier League since the end of September, when he followed up a goal against Swansea City with a red card.
Roberto Di Matteo has put Chelsea in better spirits and they will put up a fight at the Etihad Stadium but Manchester City should have too much for them. There is a lot at stake and Roberto Mancini's team must keep cool under pressure but they should have enough attacking quality to just separate themselves from the Blues and preserve their perfect home record.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea 
