The lineups are out and Gabriel Jesus is leading the line for Manchester City as the Premier League leaders visit defending champions Chelsea in what promises to be an exhilarating tie at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
Here is today’s team… #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/UN68HS44NE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 30, 2017
Chelsea, without the suspended David Luiz, have drafted in Andreas Christensen in defence and the young Dane is flanked by Gary Cahill and summer signing Antonio Rudiger at the back.
Tiemoue Bakayoko partners N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas in the centre of midfield with Marcos Alonso reprising his role as right wing-back in their 3-4-3 system.
Cesar Azpilicueta has been pushed up to right wing-back but Blues fans will be delighted to see star winger Eden Hazard and club-record signing Alvaro Morata starting up front for the first time in the Premier League this season.
Here we go… The team is in! What do you make of our @HaysWorldwide line-up? #cfcvcity pic.twitter.com/EFC0Lv1kBc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 30, 2017
City have to make do without top scorer Sergio Aguero, who suffered a fractured rib in a car crash on Thursday night and giving Jesus company in attack are young wingers Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.
With Benjamin Mendy also out with injury, midfielder Fabian Delph deputises at left-back in City’s four-man defence, along with Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Kyle Walker.
Fernandinho is flanked by Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva in midfield as City look to get revenge on a team that did the double on them last season.
Chelsea: Courtois, Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill (c), Azpilicueta, Kane, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Alonso, Hazard and Morata.
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Sterling, De Bruyne, Delph, Sane, Silva (c), Fernandinho, Otamendi and Jesus.
Match kicks off at 5.30 PM GMT/10 PM IST.