Only Newcastle are seeing more corners per game (6.58) than Chelsea (6.23) in the Premier League this season. The Blues have utilised corners and set pieces more often this season, which is a trend that is reflected across the Premier League as a whole, with the season seeing the largest share of set-piece goals for over 10 years.

Chelsea’s corner average rises further to 7.07 corners per game when looking at their games at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. Again, only Newcastle (7.19) can better this tally in front of their own supporters, so this is clearly a big part of Chelsea’s game that they can use again as an avenue to goal.

Manchester City are conceding 4.20 corners per game across their away matches in the Premier League this season. I wouldn’t say they are vulnerable to set pieces, but Chelsea may struggle for many chances from open play so a high corner count could come about as a result of Chelsea lacking creativity from open play.

Chelsea committed 14 fouls and picked up three yellow cards when these sides met at the Etihad earlier in the season, with Chelsea striking late to earn a 1-1 draw on that occasion. Chelsea have long had a well-documented issue with discipline, collecting 71 yellow cards across their 31 Premier League matches (2.29 per game). 

Only Tottenham (75) and Brighton (79) have picked up more yellow cards in the Premier League this term than Chelsea. The Blues also top the red card rankings with seven this season - three more than any other side in the division. This discipline issue hasn’t gone anywhere under Liam Rosenior; if anything, the camp has grown more frustrated as Chelsea slip down the table. 

The referee for this game is Chris Kavanagh, who is averaging 3.70 yellow cards per game in the Premier League across his 23 appointments in the division.

Erling Haaland was back to his clinical best against Liverpool last time out in the FA Cup, scoring a hat trick as Manchester City came away 4-0 winners over Arne Slot’s side. Haaland should prove to be a pivotal player for City in the final run-in of games, and he’s got an excellent record against Chelsea.

Haaland scored and had two shots on target in his last visit to Stamford Bridge, netting two goals from three shots on target in his prior visit to West London. Haaland has scored 22 goals in the Premier League this season from 102 shots (3.80 per 90), seeing 49 of these efforts find the target (1.82 per 90). 

Chelsea are not secure at the back at all right now and have only kept a handful of clean sheets since Liam Rosenior took charge. This is a massive game for Manchester City in the title race. They’ve scored 24 goals across their 15 away matches this term and are averaging 5.20 shots on target per game in the Premier League overall.

Joao Pedro has been one of the few Chelsea players to maintain a pretty decent level since Liam Rosenior arrived, with the forward registering 14 goal contributions across his matches under the former Strasbourg boss. 

Joao Pedro has definitely improved his general hold-up play as a striker. He was a bit weak in the early weeks of the season, but is now quite clever with his movement, which can aid him in winning a foul here. 

Joao Pedro has won 46 fouls across his 27 starts in the Premier League this season (1.78 per 90), suggesting that this is a strong part of his game he can leverage to get Chelsea up the pitch at times when they are struggling to find a way out of City’s press, which has been improving all season. 

Manchester City committed 12 fouls when these sides met earlier in the campaign, a game which ended in a 1-1 draw. Joao Pedro was fouled three times in that clash, offering promise for the Chelsea striker to be hauled down just once here.

Erling Haaland has been the most productive player in the Premier League this season, registering 29 goal contributions across his 28 starts - including seven assists.

This is just one short of the assist tally he managed in his first season in the Premier League, which reflects how he’s developed his game and been a more well-rounded asset for City this term.

Haaland registered a hat trick against Liverpool last time out as City came away 4-0 winners. He’s got a good record against Chelsea too, having scored in each of his last two visits to Stamford Bridge.

I think he’ll cause Chelsea plenty of problems with the confidence he should have after that hat trick, and he’s also on penalties for Manchester City, should that angle present itself.

Rodri may not be getting as carded as he used to be, but most times I've watched him, he's looking a lot less sharp. Ideal for us against this Chelsea attack and midfield, it's likely he'll come into contact with Pedro (1.79 fouls won), Caicedo (1.65), and Palmer (1.59).

He was carded against Liverpool and is prone to committing a tactical foul if a player gets around him. There's potential if he's subbed, it's for Nico Gonzalez, who's been carded six times already this season, too.

Man City are the team that Caicedo has been carded against the most (6), and that's across just eight games. Across the season, he is averaging 1.69 fouls per 90 and has picked up nine bookings already this season. He's actually yet to manage a win when playing against City, and has committed the most fouls for Chelsea.

He'll have a tough task on his hands, up against this fluid Man City frontline, the likes of Marmoush (2.81 fouls drawn per 90), Cherki (2.07 fouls drawn per 90), Haaland (0.86 fouls drawn per 90), Semenyo (0.57 fouls drawn per 90), and Doku (2.92 fouls drawn per 90) are all names you'd expect to be brought into battles with Caicedo.