The Etihad Stadium will host one of the biggest Premier League games of the season tonight as Manchester City take on Chelsea in a highly anticipated clash between the two favourites to win the title in May.
Despite both being behind Arsenal in the race for the championship, City are firm favourites, and could go top tonight with a win, and Chelsea are second favourites despite facing a five-point gap between themselves and Arsene Wenger’s men IF they lose tonight.
So with the big game just hours away, two pundits have been wrapping their brains together and created a starting XI if the two teams combined together.
Martin Keown, formerly of Arsenal, picked five Chelsea players and six City players, whereas Jamie Redknapp, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, picked only THREE Chelsea players and eight City players.
So here are the two teams they chose!
Martin Keown: Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic, Vincent Kompany, John Terry, Aleksandr Kolarov, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Ramires, David Silva, Alvaro Negredo, Eden Hazard.
His comments: “Cech is so consistent and I’ve chosen a solid back four — Kompany and Terry pick themselves.
“The midfield is full of pace and power, though Yaya Toure would play further forward.
“Silva and Hazard offer more creativity and in the absence of the injured Aguero, I’d have Negredo leading the line.”
Jamie Redknapp: Joe Hart, Pabo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, John Terry, Gael Clichy, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Willian, David Silva, Eden Hazard, Alvaro Negredo
His comments: “Hart has come through a difficult period and is back in form, while Zabaleta is a warrior and an easy pick.
“City’s midfield two are a real force but with Silva further forward there’s plenty of guile, too.
“Hazard has to play, though I’d have Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero, too, if they were fit.”
So what are your thoughts on this team?
Comment your combined XI below!
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
