Rodri, Josko Gvardiol and Tijjani Reijnders come in while Nico, Nathan Ake and Savinho drop out for this 17:30 (UK) kick-off at the Etihad.
Ake moves to the bench while Savinho and Nico both miss out completely after coming off at the Stadium of Light.
Savinho is injured along with Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic while Nico and John Stones are not fully fit for this one.
Rodri has not been in the First XI since our 1-0 success at Brentford in November 2025 but makes a welcome return tonight.
Guardiola’s Blues sit third in the Premier League table but a victory would see us leapfrog Aston Villa and move just four points behind leaders Arsenal.
TEAMS
CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Ake, Doku, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, R Heskey
CHELSEA XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto, Fernandez, James (c), Estevao, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro
Subs: Merrick, Slonina, Tosin, Hato, Santos, Garnacho, Gittens, Delap, Guiu
TACTICS
Gianluigi Donnarumma is between the sticks and protected by a back four of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly.
Rodri will be in the anchor role after impressing greatly in the second half at Sunderland, alongside captain Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders in the midfield area.
Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden will interchange in the spaces behind striking ace Erling Haaland.
WELCOME BACK RODRI
There are few more reassuring sights in football than Rodri’s name on the teamsheet.
The Spanish Ballon d’Or winner is talismanic, it’s as simple as that.
His mere presence on the pitch provides comfort and then when he gets playing, he’s like a Rolls-Royce.
His anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up in September 2024, which kept him out for much of the past season, was a body blow to Pep Guardiola and all Blues supporters.
He’s had a stop-start return to action, with only nine appearances this term as he’s suffered setbacks along the way.
There’s no question that Nico Gonzalez has been class in that anchor role in Rodri’s absence, helping the Blues to 13 wins from 18 Premier League games and spearheading our route to the semi-finals of the League Cup as well as putting us within touching distance of the knockout stages of the Champions League.
But his absence today, alongside Rodri’s performance in the second half at Sunderland, are the catalysts for a return to the XI this evening for the Euro 2024 winner and this is extremely welcome news with City looking to keep the pressure up on Arsenal with victory over the managerless Chelsea, who will be a tough proposition.
FOCUS ON OURSELVES
Their manager, Enzo Maresca, may have left Stamford Bridge this past week but Pep Guardiola knows full well that Chelsea will be just as tough as usual this evening.
Maresca’s departure was announced on New Year’s Day and Guardiola was quizzed about the news of the former City coach’s exit in the aftermath of our 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
The manager said Chelsea had lost an ‘incredible manager and incredible person’ but stressed that he and his players will, as always, focus on ourselves and our own game going into the match rather that looking at what’s happening outside our bubble.
“It has always been a dangerous game against Chelsea. Always. The Premier League is dangerous every game.
“Just think about yourself, what do you have to do with our people who are going to help us and two tough games against Chelsea and Brighton.”
ENJOYMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS
Rayan Cherki is a joy to watch – and he loves it that way.
Cherki, a summer signing for City, has really caught the eye of late with bravery, boldness and downright bravado on the ball in the sky blue shirt.
But while the 22-year-old likes nothing than better than entertaining out on the pitch, he also know what football is all about and that’s winning, something he can’t get enough of with the Blues as he eyes three points against Chelsea this evening.
“If I had to describe my game, I like beautiful things. I love football,” he said pre-match.
“I like to see it with emotion. Not all lives are easy and when the fans come to the stadium, it’s to enjoy 90 minutes of pure pleasure and forget everything.
“And that’s what I’m here for, but at the same time I want to be effective. That’s the objective.”
Cherki is balancing these two factors perfectly.
MATCH STATS
-City are unbeaten in our last eight Premier League games against Chelsea (W6 D2), our joint-longest run without defeat against the Blues in our league history (also 8 between 1936 and 1949).
-Having won four consecutive away league games against City between 2005 and 2008, Chelsea have now won just three of their last 16 visits to the Etihad (D2 L11).
-City have only failed to score in one of our last 22 Premier League games against Chelsea, losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in December 2018.
-Chelsea have won their first league game in just one of the last nine calendar years (D6 L2), beating Fulham 1-0 in 2024.
-City have won our last eight Premier League home games, netting 3+ goals in seven of those including the last five in a row. WE last scored 3+ goals in more consecutive home league games between April and October 2022 (10).
-Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games (D4 L2), having won five of their previous six (L1).
-Chelsea have dropped 15 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, as many as in the whole of 2024/25 while they last dropped more in 2022/23 (18). However, 13 of these 15 points dropped have come at Stamford Bridge.
-This will be Pep Guardiola’s 31st meeting with Chelsea as a manager (W15 D7 L8), only facing Arsenal more often (33). As Man City boss this will be his 26th against the Blues (W15 D3 L7), his joint-most against an opponent (also 26 vs Manchester United).
-Erling Haaland has scored 11 goals in eight Premier League home games for City this season, netting twice in five different games. The last player to score 2+ goals in more different home games in a season was Haaland himself in 2022/23 (6).
-Each of Cole Palmer’s last nine Premier League goals for Chelsea have been scored in London. He’s not scored outside of the capital since December 2024 (vs Southampton), while he’s not scored north of London since August 2024 (vs Wolves).
City v Brighton tickets on general sale
We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.
And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!
Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.
Or make it a night to remember with hospitality packages starting from just £180 per person and a wide range of experiences available to suit your budget.
