Champions Manchester City face Chelsea at their Etihad Stadium home in a clash between the two teams many expect to slug it our for the Premier League title.

Chelsea won this corresponding fixture 1-0 last season - the only team to come away from the Etihad in the league with a win - as Jose´ Mourinho's side did the double over Manuel Pellegrini's men.

However, City have already slipped to a home defeat this term - a 1-0 reverse to Stoke - and followed that loss with a 2-2 home draw with Arsenal.

Those slip-ups see the champions already sitting five points behind early league leaders Chelsea, who have four wins out of four this term.

Star striker Diego Costa has come into the side to fire the Blues to the top, with seven goals already this campaign.

Tactical clash

Pellegrini will have to come up with a plan to contain the striker in what should prove a mouth-watering tactical clash with 'Special One' Mourinho, who was widely praised for the tactics employed to win at the Etihad last term.

The game is also sure to prove emotional for Chelsea's recordgoalscorer Frank Lampard, who left Stamford Bridge in the summer after 13 seasons, signing for New York City FC, before being loaned to Manchester City in a six-month deal.

Both teams go into the clash after midweek UEFA Champions League games against German opposition - City going down to a last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich, while Chelsea were held 1-1 by Schalke.

Match Facts

- Fernando remains sidelined with a groin injury, while Stevan Jovetic is also unlikely to feature, having missed the match with Arsenal due to a hamstring problem.

- Aguero was rested from the start in Munich, and is likely to return to the starting XI, though he may drop deeper in support of Dzeko if the Bosnian keeps his place.

- Pablo Zabaleta will replace Sagna at right-back, while Kolarov will hope to come in for Clichy on the left.

- Jose´ Mourinho is keen to stress that Diego Costa's fitness remains a concern, but it would be a real surprise if the Spaniard didn't start tomorrow.

- The Blues came through their midweek match unscathed and have no fresh injury concerns to contend with, so should remain largely unchanged.

- The real competition for places will likely involve the likes of Oscar, Schurrle, Willian, and Ramires, with the latter 2 of the 4 perhaps preferred for their defensive capabilities.