Team news, stats and predictions ahead of Chelsea v Man City in Saturday’s Premier League; Kick-off at 12.30 p.m.

Team news

Mason Mount will be missed Chelseas The Premier League face Manchester City with a minor injury.

The English midfielder suffered a blow in the Carabao Cup 4-3 win on penalties against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

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Thomas Tuchel says playing Manchester City is always a “50/50 game” and gives fitness updates on Edouard Mendy, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic

Edouard Mendy shook off a hip problem to start in goal but Christian Pulisic is still out with ankle problems.

Man City could have John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Rodri competing again as some of Pep Guardiola’s injury problems subside.

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Pep Guardiola called Manchester City’s away games against Chelsea, PSG and Liverpool a “privilege” before expressing his enthusiasm for the Ryder Cup

The trio returned to training this week and will be judged on Saturday morning, but Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko are expected to be out again.

Nathan Ake missed the Carabao Cup midweek win over Wycombe to attend his father’s funeral but is expected to return against his former club.

So follow you

Follow Chelsea v Man City on our dedicated live game blog. The highlights will also be published at 5.15 p.m. on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.

Last time out …

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WATCH FOR FREE: Highlights from Manchester City’s draw with Southampton

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WATCH FOR FREE: Highlights from Chelsea’s win over Tottenham

Jones knows prediction

Oh hello. A monstrous football game – a shame that it was selected for Saturday lunchtime and that such a showdown between the two title favorites took place so early in the season. Fine margins will be in play in a caged encounter full of chess-like moves between two outstanding managers. Choosing a winner between these two who get almost identical prizes at Sky Bet is not something I’m going to waste my time on. It really is a must for both of you. And the 23/10 draw at Sky Bet is the sensible game.

My gaze falls on the card market.

The fact that this is a clash between two title rivals early in the season opens up the possibility of a slow burner with not much room for each team to counterattack. One point is a perfectly acceptable result for both. This could result in a low number of fouls involving two teams that are low on the yellow cards anyway.

In the time since Thomas Tuchel took office, Chelsea have been shown the third most cards in terms of ubiquitous Premier League teams (30) and City the second lowest (29). On average, this equates to a little more than one card per 90 minutes for each team. With the umpires apparently happy to let the game flow more in this campaign, umpire Michael Oliver may want to reinforce this point in the most famous Premier League game to date and take a “soft, mellow” approach. Something he did for the high profile Brentford-Arsenal season opener where he didn’t show a single card.

Sky Bet awaits cards according to their lines. I do not agree. That’s why I like to bet on less than 40 booking points (10 for yellow, 20 for red) in the hope that Oliver will let a highly competitive game flow without him having to interfere.

PREDICTION OF THE POINTS: 1-1

Go for statistics

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We take a look at the action this weekend as Chelsea host Manchester City, Aston Villa travel to Manchester United and Arsenal & Tottenham clash in the North London Derby

  • Chelsea have won their last three meetings with Man City in all competitions, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League. They last had a longer winning streak against the Citizens between December 2005 and March 2009 (8 games).
  • Manchester City have won three of their last six Premier League away games against Chelsea (L3), more than in their last 23 top division visits to Stamford Bridge (S2,8,13). The Citizens want to win away games in the first division against Chelsea for the first time since January 1955.
  • None of the last 12 Premier League games between Chelsea and Manchester City have been drawn, with Chelsea winning five to seven by City.
  • Chelsea and Manchester City both have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, with only one goal conceded this season (also on par with Liverpool). The Blues now have an xG value of 5.5 and conceded four fewer goals than one would expect based on the quality of the chances – the best difference this season in this league.
  • Chelsea have conceded 15 goals in 24 Premier League games under Thomas Tuchel, more than any other team since the German took office.

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