Last season’s corresponding fixture between Chelsea and Man City at Stamford Bridge (4-4), was one of the most entertaining games of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

Another six goals were scored when the two sides met in pre-season earlier this month, with Man City winning 4-2 in the US.

Goals seemed to follow Pep Guardiola’s men on their travels last season, with 68% of Man City’s Premier League away fixtures producing three or more goals.

Moises Caicedo brings plenty of steely qualities to Chelsea’s midfield, and the 22-year-old committed 1.57 fouls per 90 last season, consequently collecting a club-high 11 yellow cards during his maiden campaign with The Blues.

Caicedo featured against Man City on three occasions last season (twice in the Premier League and once in the FA Cup), and the midfielder committed three or more fouls on each occasion.

The Ecuadorian midfielder committed two or more fouls in 18 separate Premier League fixtures last season.

Phil Foden’s close control and lightweight frame tend to make him a foul magnet for Man City, and the England international was fouled 1.89 times per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season.

Foden faced Chelsea three times last term, and the Englishman did not get through any of these appearances unscathed, drawing at least one foul in each of these fixtures.

This bet won in 17 different Premier League matches last season.

Mancunian Cole Palmer may always be ‘the one that got away’ for Man City, and the 22-year-old blossomed at Chelsea from the moment he left The Cityzens to take up a more prominent first-team role in London.

Palmer finished last season with more goal contributions (33) than any other player and lodged a healthy 1.28 shots on target per 90 minutes over the course of the campaign.

Palmer registered a shot on target in two of his three appearances against his former club last season, and found the target in 22 Premier League fixtures across the campaign.

Erling Haaland had the luxury of the summer off, and should be sharp and ready to make his customary fast start to the season here.

Haaland has already found joy when facing Chelsea this month, plundering a superb hat-trick against his upcoming opponents in a friendly in the US.

The Norwegian striker is clearly no stranger to success against Chelsea, having netted twice in his most recent visit to Stamford Bridge.

It is worth noting that Haaland has bagged a brace on the opening weekend of each of the last two Premier League campaigns.

Enzo Fernandez, who forms one of the Premier League’s scrappiest midfield double acts alongside Moises Caicedo, committed an average of 1.35 fouls per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season.

Fernandez committed at least two fouls in 11 of his 26 league starts.

The 23-year-old fouled twice when Chelsea faced Man City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in April.

When analysing the combined forecast of midfielders likely to feature here, it seems logical to expect the foul-count to be high, and Man City’s Mateo Kovacic appears a strong contender to contribute.

Kovacic committed an average of 0.99 fouls per 90 in the Premier League last season, fouling at least once in eight of his 16 starts.

The former Chelsea midfielder will be eager to make an impact on his old stomping ground at Stamford Bridge.

In an injury-scuppered season, Christopher Nkunku still looked sharp for Chelsea when available, registering a club-high 1.42 shots on target per 90 in the Premier League.

The Frenchman faced City just once last season, and on that occasion, he made two attempts, one of which found the target.

Nkunku registered one shot on target in the pre-season friendly between the two sides earlier this month.