Chelsea vs Manchester City team news: Loic Remy starts with Diego Costa suspended and no Cesc Fabregas for Blues
Manchester City make five changes with Bacary Sagna preferred to Pablo Zabaleta
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jose Mourinho has elected to start Loic Remy in place of the suspended Diego Costa for the important Premier League clash against second-placed Manchester City.
Chelsea’s starting line-up shows three changes from the side that beat Liverpool in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday, with Cesar Azpilicueta returning on the left in place of Filipe Luis. Ramires replaces the injured Cesc Fabregas, but it’s the absence of Costa that will cause Chelsea their biggest concerns.
Remy comes in for the Spaniard, who is suspended for three games for his stamp on Emre Can, but the Frenchman only has four goals this season, two of which have come in the Premier League.
City’s starting XI shows five changes from the shock FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough last weekend, with three of those coming in defence. Out goes Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksandar Kolarov and Dedryck Boyata, and in comes Bacary Sagna, Martin Demichelis and Gael Clichy. Fernandinho replaces Stevan Jovetic to give City more strength in midfield, while Joe Hart returns in goal at the expense of Willy Caballero.
Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will have to wait for his Stamford Bridge return as he could only make do with a place in the bench, having scored the equaliser when these two clubs met earlier in the season at the Etihad Stadium.
Line-ups:
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy.
Subs: Cech, Cahill, Christensen, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Brown and Drogba.
Manchester City: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner, Silva; Aguero.
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Boyata, Kolarov, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments