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Preview: Chelsea vs. Manchester City

Sports Mole looks ahead to this Sunday's highly anticipated Premier League tie between Chelsea and Manchester City

New Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez begins his term at Stamford Bridge with a mouth-watering clash against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

It's a tough test for the former Liverpool boss, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday, as he attempts to win over a host of supporters who have yet to give the Spaniard their backing.

Chelsea sit third in the league table, while City currently top the standings following their 5-0 rout over Aston Villa last weekend.

Benitez is likely to opt for Fernando Torres, with who he reunited this week following both of their stints at Anfield, up front, while Eden Hazard and Juan Mata are expected to provide support from the wide areas.

Roberto Mancini is likely to place Sergio Aguero up top, while Joleon Lescott could return to the fray in defence and Carlos Tevez could once again be handed a spot on the bench.

Recent form:

Chelsea: WLDDL

Man City: WWDWW

Possible lineups:

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Hazard, Oscar, Mata; Torres

Man City: Hart; Maicon, Nastasic, Lescott, Zabaleta; Toure, Garcia; Silva, Nasri, Tevez; Aguero

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Rafael Benitez holds the Chelsea shirt as he is unveiled as manager on November 22, 2012
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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