Sergio Aguero Will Be Key for Man City, but Frank Lampard Could Surprise Chelsea

After two defeats and a draw in their last three games—the first time they have gone three games without a win since December 2012—Manchester City face Premier League leaders Chelsea this Sunday knowing a defeat would leave them eight points adrift of the west London club after just five matches. It feels like a must-win game, even this early in the season.

It’s been a tough week for City. It started with a 2-2 draw at the Emirates against an Arsenal side who demonstrated their growing title-winning credentials, before a last-gasp defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday saw their Champions League campaign get off to a disappointing start. On the back of the home defeat to Stoke, it’s left some feeling like City’s start to the season may prove costly.

However, Sunday presents them with a perfect opportunity to kick-start their campaign, with a win against Chelsea enough to see them go two points behind the early pace-setters having already played three of last season’s top four. The picture would suddenly look an awful lot brighter if Manuel Pellegrini does what he couldn’t do in the reverse fixture last season and outflank Jose Mourinho tactically.

And Pellegrini believes his biggest weapon for the game will be striker Sergio Aguero, who was rested in midweek for the game in Munich and will almost certainly come straight back into the starting XI. He said:

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It’s very important. Maybe Sergio in this moment is not ready to play three games in a row, just in one week, 90 minutes, that is why I thought it was better for him and the squad not to play 90 minutes against Bayern. He is fresh for Sunday and I am sure he will make a difference.

I think that not only important matches. I think Sergio always makes a difference when he is 100 percent fit. I don’t know which matches are not important. All have the same importance because all are three points but Sergio makes a difference when he is 100 percent fit.

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There’s no doubting Pellegrini’s assertions. When Aguero is at his best, very few strikers in the Premier League come close to matching his efficiency in front of goal. Before injuries stymied his form last season, he had scored 26 goals in his first 25 games in all competitions, a remarkable return that contributed to City's best run of performances in a season which saw them win two trophies.

He has three in five already this term after a difficult World Cup in which he looked distinctly out-of-sorts, with a sharpness returning to his play that hadn’t been seen since City’s 5-1 win away at Tottenham at the end of January. After a rest in midweek, Pellegrini hopes he will be the difference against a Chelsea side who have looked superb in their opening four league games.

Chelsea's marvellous summer transfer window, which saw them address the three major areas of concern in their squad, has reinvigorated them, and they are many people's favourite to go on and snatch the title from City's grasp.

The other big news to emerge from Pellegrini’s press briefing was that Frank Lampard will be in the squad to face his old club and looks set to play a part. Pellegrini said:

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Frank is part of our squad and tomorrow I will give the squad list for that game but for sure he will be involved.

I don’t think it is a difficult situation for him. I think Frank didn’t continue in Chelsea because Chelsea didn’t want him, not because he wanted to come here to Manchester City. He couldn’t continue with the team he played his whole life for. He has all the rights to continue playing football. He arrived here. We are very happy with him.

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Lampard spent 13 years at Stamford Bridge, an era which saw them win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League. Lampard left a club legend, having become their all-time leading goalscorer with 211 goals and leading them with distinction on the pitch during a period of great success.

It will be a strange experience for Lampard if he is to line up against his former club, but City need a big performance from whoever plays, regardless of former allegiances. It was always going to be a difficult start to the season given the run of fixtures they faced but falling eight points behind the leaders would be problematic. After a week which has seen them play two of Europe's top teams, Sunday's match is arguably the most important.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.