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When Chelsea triumphed in Porto against Pep Guardiola's team in
May, the result was considered an upset with City heavily backed
to win their first Champions League.
But four months later, Thomas Tuchel's West London side find
themselves many pundits' favourites to win the domestic title
after a hugely impressive start to the campaign.
Chelsea have won four of their opening five matches with a draw
coming after a 10-man rearguard action against Liverpool at
Anfield which earned as many plaudits as their victories.
They also have a 100% record against City since Tuchel took
charge at Stamford Bridge in late January -- winning in the FA
Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League final.
City's start has seen them lose at Tottenham Hotspur, with a
draw at home to Southampton last week leaving them three points
off the leading trio - Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Romelu Lukaku's arrival from Inter Milan for 97 million pounds
($132.67 million) has given Chelsea an extra dimension they
lacked last term - a scoring threat ahead of their creative
midfielders, unmatched defensive midfield and solid back-line.
City failed in their bid to sign an out-and-out striker in the
form of Spurs' Harry Kane and Guardiola's team have yet to truly
display the kind of fluent, attacking football for which they
have been known under the Spaniard's charge.
Kane himself has struggled for form at Tottenham but Sunday
would be the perfect occasion to get back to his best with a
trip to the Emirates for the North London derby with Arsenal.
After leading the table after winning their opening three league
games under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Spurs have suffered
back-to-back 3-0 losses to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
In contrast, Arsenal lost their first three games but go into
the derby after morale-boosting wins against Norwich City and
Burnley.
Juergen Klopp's Liverpool face a tricky trip to promoted
Brentford in Saturday's late game (1630 GMT), while Manchester
United host Aston Villa in an early kick-off (1130 GMT).
($1 = 0.7312 pounds)
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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