THE Week 2 highlight takes place on Sunday as last season's Top 2 clash at the Etihad. Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) gives us his view.
Man City v Chelsea | Sunday 16:00 | Sky Sports 1
Well those of us on the Chelsea-to-win-the-title-and-Man-City-to-flop bandwagon took a massive kick in the John Stones last week when the Blues dropped two points at home to Swansea and City squashed West Brom in a brutal display. Have I really got it massively wrong?!
Man City have been backed in all week into a skinny looking 23/20 to win this match while Chelsea have taken a walk out to 14/5. That's the biggest price the Blues have been in the league since April 2014 when they went off almost 9/2 against Liverpool in that epic encounter.
Chelsea are up against it. It's been a torrid week for the club with internal issues regarding their medical team becoming the story of the week. Their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois misses this game after being sent off last week and they've relinquished their position as title favs just three days into the campaign. Ugh.
Isn't this when Jose Mourinho teams come out fighting though? Isn't this when his don't-lose-at-all-counts policy kicks into action? Their only domestic crisis last season was on New Years Day when Tottenham beat them 5-3 and that resulted in them standing strong and not losing another league game for four and a half months.
Man City also seem to have a point to prove as we saw last Monday and it they obviously have a clear desire to stick a middle finger up at doubters like me. So all in all this looks a combustible affair. And that's not even referencing the deep mutual disrespect amongst the managers.
A victory here for Man City could see them hit the cusp of odds on for the title. It would put down a massive marker for the title. Stubbornly I'm not willing to completely re-evaluate my view on the season after one game and can't back them at those cramped odds.
Instead I'm siding with the draw here at 28/11 with BetBright and I'll top that up with punts on the 1-1 and 2-2 scoreline. Both games were 1-1 draws last season and with so much attacking flair on display I'm sure we'll see goals. Unlike many I'm not willing to lose faith in Chelsea after the week of hell they've endured.
Best Bets
Man City v Chelsea – Draw (28/11 BetBright)
Man City v Chelsea – 1-1 Draw (13/2 BetVictor)
Man City v Chelsea – 2-2 Draw (17/1 BetVictor)
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