Chelsea face Manchester City as they return to Premier League duty on Sunday with one of the toughest assignments in English football, a trip to the Etihad Stadium.
It comes at a moment of uncertainty for the west London club, who are adjusting to life without a permanent manager and attempting to steady a season that has begun to wobble at a crucial stage.
Chelsea face Manchester City having failed to win any of their last three league matches, a run that has stalled momentum just as the table begins to take shape.
New Year’s Day brought significant change at Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca departing his role, leaving Chelsea to prepare for this fixture without a long-term head coach in place.
Despite the turbulence, Chelsea remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place. They sit fifth in the Premier League standings, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and nine adrift of Aston Villa in third.
That gap underlines how quickly a promising campaign can drift, especially with a run of demanding fixtures on the horizon.
Sunday’s opponents are also searching for rhythm. Manchester City, perennial title contenders, were held to an entertaining 0-0 draw by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on January 1.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be keen to reassert themselves in front of their own supporters, making the task even more daunting for a Chelsea side still finding its feet after managerial upheaval.
As Chelsea face Manchester City, history suggests the Etihad is an unforgiving venue, particularly for teams dealing with disruption behind the scenes.
For Chelsea, discipline, organisation and resilience will be essential. However, their preparation has been complicated by a growing list of injuries and suspensions that has stretched the squad and limited selection options.
Injuries, suspensions and return dates
Chelsea’s injury list continues to be headlined by Levi Colwill, who has been sidelined since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the summer.
His rehabilitation is progressing, but the defender is effectively racing the clock if he is to feature again before the end of the season. The club remain cautious, prioritising a full recovery over any rushed return, given the severity of the injury.
Another summer arrival, Dario Essugo, has also endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines. The midfielder had recently returned to training after recovering from a thigh problem, only to suffer a setback that delayed his comeback once more.
Chelsea are hopeful he will be able to make his competitive return at some point this year, though no precise date has been confirmed.
Romeo Lavia’s situation is slightly more encouraging. The Belgian midfielder has yet to feature regularly this season due to ongoing fitness issues, and Maresca did not provide a clear timeline before his departure.
Even so, there is optimism within the club that Lavia could return at some stage in January, provided there are no further complications.
Defensive options remain under scrutiny as well. Marc Cucurella missed the recent match against Aston Villa after picking up a hamstring injury, and his involvement against Manchester City is still uncertain.
The Spanish full-back will be assessed closer to kick-off, with the medical staff keen not to aggravate the problem given the congested fixture schedule.
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Jorrel Hato is another player whose fitness will be monitored closely. The defender was ruled out of the Bournemouth game due to an unspecified issue, but Chelsea are hopeful it will not keep him sidelined for long.
Also, midfield enforcer Moises Caicedo, will be unavailable as Chelsea face Manchester City. He is a definite absentee. The Ecuador international will miss Sunday’s clash after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the draw against Bournemouth.
His suspension comes at an awkward time, removing a key presence in the centre of the pitch against one of the league’s most technically gifted sides.
There is also no immediate return in sight for Mykhaylo Mudryk. The winger remains provisionally suspended following a positive doping test in late 2024.
He was charged in June 2025, and until the situation is resolved, Chelsea must continue without one of their attacking options.
