Manchester City vs Chelsea Prediction: Palmer to catch City cold at Etihad

Arguably the standout fixture in the Premier League this weekend comes from the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (17:30, Sky Sports Main Event) as fifth-placed Manchester City host Chelsea, who are two points above the Citizens in fourth.

Below is my Manchester City vs Chelsea prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Ruben Dias was withdrawn at half-time of Manchester City's 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Champions League on Wednesday night and the Portuguese defender has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Chelsea.

Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, who impressed in last Sunday's 6-0 win at Ipswich Town, scoring his side's third and setting up their fourth, missed the midweek trip to Paris and like Dias, will be absent this weekend due to an unspecified injury.

Dias and Doku join Rodri (ACL) and Nathan Ake (muscular) in the treatment room, while Oscar Bobb is continuing to build up his fitness after almost six months out with a leg injury.

The good news for Pep Guardiola is that recent recruits Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush are all available for selection and could make their debuts on Saturday.

Football Odds

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed Romeo Lavia, previously on the Citizens' books, will miss a reunion with his former club due to a thigh injury that kept him out of action in the Blues' 3-1 win over Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Benoit Badiashile also remains injured with a thigh problem and Wesley Fofana with a muscular issue but Maresca has delivered a positive update over Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill, who both missed out against the Old Gold. "Probably Levi and Enzo could be ready [to feature against Man City]," he told reporters on Friday. "It depends on today’s session."

Cole Palmer was a doubt for last Monday's match due to an ankle knock but managed to complete 84 minutes before being substituted.

"He is better,’ said Maresca ahead of Palmer's return to Manchester. "He did an unbelievable effort to play against Wolves and he is getting better."

Manchester City vs Chelsea Odds

Man City beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in August's reverse fixture on the opening weekend of the campaign and have recovered from their Premier League woes to go unbeaten in their last four games in the competition, three of which they have won.

Saturday's hosts are 21/20 to make it back-to-back league wins at the Etihad following their 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United on January 4. Those odds imply a win probability of 48.8% while their visitors are 9/4, or a 30.8% chance, to triumph on their Premier League travels for the first time since December 8 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 in north London.

Chelsea have drawn two of their last three league games and you can back a third in fourth at 3/1, while both teams to score is priced at 4/11.

Draw No Bet - Chelsea @ 11/8

Following a stunning run of just one win in 13 games, Man City stopped the rot with a 2-0 victory at Leicester City that was the first of four in five games, the other of which they drew. However, after taking a 2-0 lead in Paris on Wednesday, the Citizens collapsed, conceding twice in five minutes and eventually losing 4-2 in the French capital.

To be honest, I wasn't really buying any thought of City being 'back' even prior to their PSG defeat. Of the four games they have won post-Christmas, one was against a fourth-division side - Salford City - in the FA Cup third round, two against newly-promoted clubs - Leicester and Ipswich Town - who are in the relegation zone, and the other against West Ham United (now 14th), who subsequently sacked their head coach Julen Lopetegui.

Chelsea should provide a much sterner test on Saturday than the likes of the Tractor Boys and the Foxes, despite their own recent wobbles that saw them fail to win in five straight games in the Premier League before overcoming Wolves earlier this week.

The suffering won't last forever for City, who have splurged on three players this month which should help to reinvigorate an ailing squad.

However, it may take the trio some time to get up to speed, which should be music to the ears of Chelsea players who will smell blood this weekend.

Out of the two sides, it's Chelsea who I think stand the better chance of coming away with all three points, but I'm taking the insurance policy of Draw No Bet, meaning our stakes are returned if the sides play out a stalemate.

First Goalscorer - Cole Palmer (CHE) @ 11/2

Who else but the ex-City starlet? Palmer swapped the Etihad for Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023 and immediately came back to haunt Guardiola's side, converting a penalty in a 4-4 draw in west London in November of that year.

The England international ended the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with 22 goals, second only to City star Erling Haaland (27 goals), and heading into the weekend, he trails only the Norwegian (17), Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (18) and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak (15) in the race for the Golden Boot.

Palmer wasn't able to add to his tally against Wolves on Monday but by all accounts, he wasn't fully fit. Prior to that win, he opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on January 14 and 10 days before struck the first in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

The 22-year-old has opened the scoring in the last three games he has bagged in and he could catch City out cold on Saturday.

Offers

Turbo Boost: Get a Turbo Boosted price on a selected market on Man City v Chelsea in the Premier League. (Available from 16:30 Saturday)

Build your own Bet Builder bet (3/1+) of 4+ legs on Man City v Chelsea and get 100% of your stake back in Free Bets up to £10 if you lose. (Credited within 24 hours)

Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven: Place a pre-match single bet on the first goalscorer market and get DOUBLE or TREBLE the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a 2nd and 3rd.

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Premier League or Championship game on Friday or Saturday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Sunday’s games. (Credited upon Bet Settlement)

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.