Chelsea vs Manchester City Predictions

• Manchester City won their final nine league games of last season, scoring 33 goals in that run
• Both teams to score has been a winning bet in four of Chelsea’s last six league matches
• The Blues are winless in nine games against City, losing seven times in that miserable run

Fifth consecutive title the aim for history makers

Manchester City made history in May by becoming the first side to win four consecutive Premier League titles and their mission to make it five crowns in a row begins with a trip to the capital on Sunday. 

Julian Alvarez looks to be on his way out but his output should be replaced immediately by Brazilian new boy Savinho who netted nine goals and assisted ten more for Girona last term, meaning the Citizens come into the new campaign with a settled squad. 

The same cannot be said for Sunday’s hosts, Chelsea, as it has been another summer of extreme change for the Blues. 

Maresca may need time to settle

Despite finishing last season strongly, winning five matches in a row to pinch sixth, they parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino and have opted for the man who coached Leicester to the Championship title, Enzo Maresca, to lead them into the new campaign. 

And it is all change on the pitch too. Veteran defender Thiago Silva has departed, leaving a big leadership void at the club, and Conor Gallagher, Romelu Lukaku and Trevoh Chalobah are all set to depart as well. 

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Filip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto have arrived, with plenty more likely still to come, and it may, like last season, take the Blues a while to gel. 

Chelsea were poor for a lot of last term as the sheer number of arrivals made life hard for Pochettino, and Maresca could face the same troubles this time around. 

The Italian is a disciple of Pep Guardiola having worked alongside him at City and it is his former mentor who is set to come out on top on Sunday. 

Champions can pick up where they left off

Both league meetings between the pair finished level last term but City ran out 1-0 victors in the most recent clash, an FA Cup semi-final in April, and they should prevail again. 

The Citizens won their final nine games of last season and scored a ludicrous 33 goals in the process. They ended the campaign in frightening form and history suggests they are likely to continue that level of performance on Sunday as Guardiola has won seven of his eight Premier League opening-weekend matches. 

Chelsea have looked vulnerable at the back in preseason, most notably when shipping four to Celtic, and while friendlies should not be read into too much, there were some worrying signs during their American tour. 

Wesley Fofana looked way off it following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Benoit Badiashile failed to impress and Reece James is a doubt for the opening game. 

Balancing his squad is going to be a tough task for Maresca and some early wins will be needed if they are the Blues to enjoy a solid season.

But with too many signings and a weak defence, a visit from the champions – who are unbeaten in nine meetings with the Blues – is unlikely to bring the Italian his first Stamford Bridge win.

Build better bets with our free betting tips, predictions and accumulators, every day.