Manchester City take on title rivals Chelsea at the Etihad on Monday in one of the games of the season… Andy Gray and Richard Keys who front beIN Sport’s coverage of the English Premier League discuss what they think will happen:
Andy Gray: City may be sitting at the top of the table but Jose Mourinho will be perfectly happy with Chelsea in third, just three points behind Manuel Pellegrini’s side. The game is being built up as a thriller but my worry is that it might not live up to expectations.
Chelsea can’t afford to lose this match because Mourinho does not want to be six points adrift of City with 14 games left. He may choose to leave one of his flair players out. At the moment he tends to pick Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard and then a front man. But he is known for shutting up shop going into games he doesn’t really fancy.
He may decide to leave out Oscar who tends to play in that area just behind the striker and bring in either Ramires, David Luiz or Frank Lampard which makes his midfield more powerful and defensive and says to City ‘we are not going to make life easy for you’. I hope he doesn’t do that and that he decides to have a go because City are vulnerable defensively so attack might just be the best form of defence for Chelsea.
Having scored 115 goals so far this season gives City a psychological advantage over their opponents who go into games thinking about how they can stop them rather than how they are going to attack them. City have the fear factor because they can get goals from anywhere and usually do.
Sergio Aguero is out injured and for any other team that would be a devastating blow but they have already shown us that they can cope without him, winning all their games the last time he was out injured.
Chelsea are smart and have good experience all over the pitch which makes them tough to beat. At the end of the day the win is more important for Chelsea whereas City could absorb a defeat. They have played 11 and won 11 at home but someone is going to beat them at some stage and it could be Chelsea.
However, I think City will win simply because they have more goal scoring options than Chelsea. Both teams will score I reckon it will end 2-1 to Pellegrini’s men.
Richard Keys: City will want to win this game to put clear blue water between them and Chelsea who are their main title rivals and Mourinho will be desperate to ensure that does not happen which should make this a fascinating game. Like Andy, I hope he doesn’t adopt a defensive approach because I think City can still be got at.
They have had two enormous breaks recently, one at Newcastle and one at Tottenham with silly refereeing decisions at key moments in games and that can’t continue. Chelsea will need the rub of the green but I believe strongly that they can undo City, who, at times, look poor in defence.
No Aguero changes it for me quite dramatically. I know they have got Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko and more good players but the Argentinian is such a big influence that he will be missed at this stage of the season. I don’t expect much to happen during the first half as the teams try to work each other out but Chelsea should shade an exciting second half.
Mourinho knows that if he loses this one the title may be beyond them and that pressure will bring the best out of his side. 2-1 away win.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
AG: Arsene Wenger described the draw against Southampton as two points lost but I think it was a point won because they were second best for long spells in the game. Palace are well organized and will be tough to score against so Arsenal will have to be patient and work hard for a 2-1 win.
RK: Arsenal might struggle to make any impression in this game because of the determination andself belief Crystal Palace now have. Sometimes when Arsenal drop points like they did against Southampton they struggle a bit in the next game so I am going for a stubborn Palace side to get a 1-1 draw.
Stoke v Man United
AG: Stoke have only taken one point in their last three league games so they look to be in trouble. United come into this game with Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Mata in the starting line-up so I think it’s going to be another grim day for Stoke. 2-0 away win.
RK: Stoke are falling like a stone and United are now significantly better and now look like they have a chance of grabbing fourth place. With RVP, Rooney and Mata in the side they’ll walk it. 2-0 United.
Newcastle v Sunderland
AG: Gus Poyet has done a really good job at Sunderland. Getting them out of the drop zone as quickly as he has is extraordinary but I fancy Newcastle to win this. Without Yohan Cabaye they might be feeling sorry for themselves and their home form hasn’t been brilliant, winning just five of eleven, but the St James’ crowd will work in Newcastle’s favour. 2-1.
RK: Sunderland are absolutely flying at the moment and will go to Newcastle with their confidence tanks overflowing. I am not sure they will have quite enough to win but they have the players to dig in and earn a 1-1 draw.
West Brom v Liverpool
AG: If you want to see an example of shockingly bad defending take a look at West Brom against Villa in midweek. If they do the same against Liverpool they’ll get taken apart. Liverpool’s away form is not great but with Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez they will be too strong. 3-1 away win.
RK: West Brom look like they have a different way of thinking under Pepe Mel but 36 goals in 33 games between Suarez and Sturridge so far tells you that Liverpool are in a different class. 3-2 away win.
West Ham v Swansea
AG: Swansea got a valuable win against a poor Fulham side in midweek so that will give them a bit of hope. West Ham ground out a dogged draw at Chelsea but they need to win at Upton Park where they have played 11 and won just two – the worst in the Premier League. Swansea will have the belief to go to West Ham and get a 1-1 draw.
RK: West Ham did well at Chelsea with a resolute display but Swansea will go there believing they can get something out of this. Yet I do think the Hammers will nick it 1-0.
Everton v Aston Villa
AG: A terrible midweek result for Everton when they got played off the park by Liverpool and Villa will be buoyed by their comeback against West Brom so will go into this game with a lot of confidence. Everton will want to prove the derby defeat was just a blip and I think they will bounce back and win this one 2-1.
RK: I know Villa are good on the road and that win against West Brom was fantastic for them but Everton will be hurting from that Liverpool defeat and they know they owe their fans a performance. I think Villa will suffer an Everton backlash. 3-1 home win.
Cardiff v Norwich
AG: Cardiff have spent some money in the transfer market to freshen things up a bit but I am not sure of the quality of players they have brought in, including Kenwyne Jones, Fabio, and Wilfried Zaha who joins on loan from Old Trafford. They need a win though and I think they might get it against an average Norwich side. 1-0.
RK: Cardiff are doomed. Zaha could end up being a tremendous piece of business but I am not sure about his attitude. George Graham always said never sign someone who thinks they are doing you a favour and he might think he is still a Man United player so the jury is out on him. I can’t see Norwich losing this. 1-0 away win.
Fulham v Southampton
AG: Fulham are in big trouble. They are on a woeful run of form, their confidence will be low, and there is no real pace in their team. They have to stop the rot sometime but it’s not going to happen against Southampton. 2-0 away win.
RK: Fulham are probably already thinking more about next season, because relegation beckons. Southampton were excellent against Arsenal in midweek and I can’t look beyond them winning this at least 2-0.
Hull v Tottenham
AG: Steve Bruce needs to address a bit of a slip down the league. I don’t think Spurs will have a hangover from being thrashed 5-1 by Man City but they will find Hull difficult to beat at home. 1-1 draw.
RK: Hull can win this even though, on paper, Spurs are a much better side. The Tim Sherwood factor has evaporated after he came into the job with all guns blazing. The swagger has gone and Hull at home are a tough proposition. 1-0 home win.
