The destination of the Premier League trophy will not be decided when current champions Chelsea meet their immediate predecessors Manchester City on Sunday, but the winners will get a welcome psychological boost for the long campaign ahead.
|||LONDON: The destination of the Premier League trophy will not be decided when current champions Chelsea meet their immediate predecessors Manchester City on Sunday, but the winners will get a welcome psychological boost for the long campaign ahead.
The meeting between two of the main title contenders has come early in the season but three points are three points whether they are won in August or May.
If Manchester City take them they will already be five clear of Chelsea whereas last season they never got their noses in front of Jose Mourinho's side.
City began their campaign with an easy 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Monday with Yaya Toure looking back to his imperious best, scoring the best goal of the season so far with City's second from the edge of the box.
Toure's excellent display and an equally emphatic statement of intent from City's captain Vincent Kompany were both in contrast to many of their performances last season.
His manager Manuel Pellegrini, who has just signed a new deal with the club, did say Toure had had problems last season following the death of his brother Ibrahim, when Toure struggled in matches against the top sides.
So he will be under scrutiny when Chelsea visit on Sunday.
Chelsea made an indifferent start with a 2-2 draw against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge but much of the focus since has been on the curious aftermath of the match with Mourinho banning the club's first team doctor Eva Carneiro from the bench.
Mourinho was unhappy that Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn went on the pitch to treat Eden Hazard near the end.
Chelsea were down to 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and because the medics had come on to the pitch, Hazard had to go off before he could resume playing, leaving Chelsea with nine men on the field.
That incensed Mourinho and his banning order has made headlines since but what should concern him more was the way his team played.
Courtois will miss Sunday's game with newly-arrived deputy Asmir Begovic taking his place.
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma made only his second start in the Premier League against runners-up City last January in the game at Stamford Bridge, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The France international, who joined Chelsea from Saint-Etienne in January 2014, has happy memories from that match and was confident of a similar strong show against City at the Etihad Stadium.
Zouma said: “It's a chance early in the season to show why we are champions. We want to defend our title. The season after a very good season is always hard but we have to show we are ready to try and do it.”
The 20-year-old Zouma, who grew up as a central defender, has shown his versatility having played several games in midfield and more recently was deployed as a left-back in the Community Shield.
“Because I'm right-footed I have never played at left-back. It was different for me positionally so I had to learn quickly and adapt to it,” Zouma added.
“It's really not a problem because the boss needed me in that position and I have to give everything for the team.
“They were good experiences for me because I played the games and I always want to be on the pitch enjoying myself. I'm feeling very well.” – Reuters
Petr Cech, Chelsea's first choice goalie for much of the past decade, is now at Arsenal and he will be hoping to put his miserable debut for the Gunners to the back of his mind at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Cech was at fault for both goals as Arsenal were shocked 2-0 at home by West Ham United on Sunday.
Palace meanwhile go into the game after an impressive 3-1 win at promoted Norwich City.
Palace have only beaten Arsenal three times in 37 meetings since they first clashed over 80 years ago and Arsenal have not lost a league match at Palace since 1979.
Arsene Wenger's men, who won the FA Cup last season and started this season with a Community Shield victory over Chelsea, will be looking to bounce back immediately.
The weekend starts with the re-introduction of a televised Friday night match with Aston Villa meeting Manchester United at Villa Park.
Both teams won their opening matches last weekend so whoever wins on Friday will go top, at least until the rest catch up on Saturday and Sunday.
w Sunday's clash against Manchester City is an ideal opportunity for Chelsea to signal the seriousness of their Premier League title defence, defender Kurt Zouma has said.
Zouma made only his second start in the Premier League against runners-up City last January in the game at Stamford Bridge, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The France international, who joined Chelsea from Saint-Etienne in January 2014, has happy memories from that match and was confident of a similar strong show against City at the Etihad Stadium.
“We know we are playing against a good team on Sunday and it will be difficult, but we have a chance to win. I think it will be a very interesting game,” Zouma told Chelsea's website (www.chelseafc.com).
“It's a chance early in the season to show why we are champions. We want to defend our title.
“The season after a very good season is always hard but we have to show we are ready to try and do it.”
The 20-year-old Zouma, who grew up as a central defender, has shown his versatility having played several games in midfield and more recently was deployed as a left-back in the Community Shield.
“Because I'm right-footed I have never played at left-back. It was different for me positionally so I had to learn quickly and adapt to it,” Zouma added.
“It's really not a problem because the boss needed me in that position and I have to give everything for the team.
“They were good experiences for me because I played the games and I always want to be on the pitch enjoying myself. I'm feeling very well.” – Reuters
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