Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel knows winning against Manchester City at the Etihad is probably needed for his side to stay in the title race.

It won’t be an easy task, to say the least, and the absences of some key first-team players for tomorrow’s game won’t make the job any simpler.

With Edouard Mendy away at the African Cup of Nations, Kepa will keep his place in goal. The Spaniard has been in good form recently and impressed in the win over Spurs midweek.

Tuchel will have to decide whether he will keep with a four-man backline or switch to a back three. After Andreas Christensen was ruled out due to the virus, it could force the German’s hand to stick with the four, but he may select Cesar Azpilicueta in a three, along with Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger. Callum Hudson-Odoi could be chosen as the right wingback with Marcos Alonso starting on the other flank.

In midfield, N’Golo Kante is expected to be fit to start, so he could replace Mateo Kovacic, with Jorginho retaining his place in the starting eleven.

The fact that Romelu Lukaku played the full 90 minutes against Tottenham may suggest that Tuchel won’t start him versus City. Kai Havertz could come in for the Belgian, with Mason Mount and Timo Werner taking up the other two forward positions.

Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Play Manchester City:

Kepa, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Havertz, Werner