Chelsea travel to the Etihad this weekend for an all-important Premier League clash and according to Michael Owen, the Blues should be on their toes.
The away side have managed to pick up all three points in their previous five league matches and with City losing vs Liverpool last weekend, Lampard would be hoping to inflict a double blow to Guardiola thereby pushing Man City well and truly out of the title race.
But according to Owen, while Chelsea will make to find the net on Saturday but they will have to be wary of their rivals since the Citizens know pretty well that they cannot afford one more slip.
Owen wrote for BetVictor: “The game of the weekend is at the Etihad and champions Manchester City will leapfrog Chelsea in the table if they take all three points.
“City won the corresponding game 6-0 last season but Chelsea did win the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and only penalties were able to split the sides at Wembley in the League Cup Final back in February.
“After their defeat at Anfield in their previous game City cannot afford to drop points, especially at the Etihad, if they are to put pressure on Liverpool in their quest for a hat-trick of titles.
“Chelsea have improved under Frank Lampard and their exciting young side are confident and talented. But beware a wounded Pep Guardiola and his side – it will have been a long international break for the City boss.
“Tip: Manchester City to win and both teams to score at 6/4.”
Man City will be looking to prove a point when they take on Chelsea during the weekend and if Lampard’s men are not careful enough then things could go horribly wrong for them.
But the Blues boss will obviously take heart from Liverpool’s performance vs City two weeks ago.
The league leaders proved in during that match that if you can manage to beat Pep Guardiola at his own game then the Spaniard cannot seem to come up with a plan B.
If Chelsea manages to beat City on Saturday then the home side could find themselves 12 points adrift the top of the league table which would clearly put them out of the title race.
