Picking a Combined Manchester City-Chelsea XI
When Manchester City and Chelsea take to the field on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, the Premier League will once again witness two of the most expensively assembled teams in English football history coming together.
City have paid big money in acquiring the vast talents of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and David Silva in recent seasons, while the Blues aren't short of expensive signings themselves, with Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas among their number.
It truly is the game of football's nouveau riche.
Chelsea's 100 percent start to the new season means five points and four places already separate them from Manuel Pellegrini's side in the table, but when we take into consideration the players each team boasts, the reality is the margins are even finer.
Are there many Chelsea players who would make Pellegrini's starting XI on Sunday, or for that matter, how many would make Jose Mourinho's?
Bleacher Report takes a closer look, picking our combined Manchester City-Chelsea XI.
Goalkeeper
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Joe Hart
With just one position up for grabs in goal, it's always going to be a tough call to make on who should make the Manchester City-Chelsea starting line-up.
Especially when Chelsea have Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois to choose from, while Manchester City have England's Joe Hart.
Right now, Hart edges it. Just.
The Englishman showed against Bayern Munich in midweek why he is so highly rated in his homeland, putting in an excellent display to almost keep the Bundesliga champions at bay.
Courtois has dislodged Cech as Chelsea's No. 1, although we haven't seen the best of him yet. He has looked a commanding presence, but is still feeling his way into the Premier League and there is much more to come from him.
Based on current form, Hart is Bleacher Report's No. 1.
Defenders
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Right-back: Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian's start to the new season has been phenomenal, scoring two goals and providing a considerable attacking threat on the flanks.
Against Schalke in midweek, Ivanovic spent the majority of the game in the opponent's half and helped Chelsea dominate for large periods, despite the 1-1 scoreline suggesting otherwise.
Ivanovic is enjoying his best form in a Chelsea shirt right now and City's Pablo Zabaleta cannot match him on that basis.
Centre-back: Vincent Kompany
Chelsea have been excellent going forward this term, although, with their new-found attacking verve, there have been some defensive errors that have crept into their game.
John Terry hasn't quite looked his best, but at the Etihad Stadium, Vincent Kompany looks as imperious as ever.
The Belgian has had moments where players have beaten him one-on-one—think Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf—yet moments such as that happen to the best defenders. Yes, even Kompany.
That doesn't disguise the influence he has at the back and he remains one of the Premier League's finest defenders—an excellent leader and strong presence.
Kompany would also captain this Manchester City-Chelsea XI.
Centre-back: Gary Cahill
It says much about the Englishman's rise that for all the big names Manchester City and Chelsea boast in defence, he wouldn't look out of place alongside Vincent Kompany.
Cahill is vital for club and country these days, recently being made vice-captain for England.
He demonstrates excellent positional sense, reads the game well and rarely commits fouls.
Cahill is solid and is certainly a safe bet at the heart of defence.
Left-back: Cesar Azpilicueta
Playing at left-back isn't even Azpilicueta's natural position, yet you wouldn't know it.
The Spaniard has been excellent since joining Chelsea—first filling in in his natural position on the right side of defence, before Jose Mourinho transformed him into a left-back last term.
He kept Ashley Cole out of the Chelsea team then and when Filipe Luis signed for £16 million over the summer, many expected Azpilicueta to lose his place.
It's been the opposite, with Luis forced to watch from the sidelines as Azpilicueta has continued his impressive form from 2013/14.
Even with Aleksandar Kolorov and Gael Clichy at Manchester City, he still commands a starting place in our combined XI.
MIdfield Pivot
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Nemanja Matic
The impact the Serbian has made in west London since returning to the club in January has been considerable—we need only ask Manchester City about that after his excellent display at the Etihad Stadium helped Chelsea to a 1-0 win last season.
Matic marshaled Yaya Toure that night, just as he has the majority of his opponents since.
He is a fine player, comfortable with the role he plays within the team and willing to sacrifice the glory and glamour of scoring goals by helping prevent them at the other end.
Matic brings a big physical presence, too.
Fernandinho
It's been a strange start to the season for Yaya Toure, so while he would normally be the first name that comes to mind in a deep-lying midfield role, he misses out to teammate Fernandinho here.
The Brazilian is an excellent player, showing last season what a shrewd purchase he was for Manuel Pellegrini, arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Alongside Nemanja Matic, he would make the midfield a considerable beast to conquer for any opponent, but would offer so much more.
There are times when Fernandinho's ability going forward is underrated, yet when in possession, he is often key to getting City moving.
He is athletic, can drive at players and would complement the attributes of Matic.
Attacking Midfield
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Eden Hazard
Starting on the left of our three attacking midfielders, Hazard would be a potent threat—as he is every week for Chelsea.
The Blues snapped him up two years ago from Lille and each season that has passed has seen him build on his considerable reputation.
This term has seen him already combine well with Cesc Fabregas to create a deadly combination in attack for Chelsea and it would be the same in this combined XI.
There aren't many players with Hazard's capabilities, even at City.
David Silva
The Spaniard is arguably Manchester City's most-vital player.
He is the man who keeps them ticking over, attacking defences and carving out openings for his teammates. He scores his fair share of goals, too.
Alongside Eden Hazard, the ability to rotate positions would cause any defence considerable problems, making Hazard and Silva even more difficult to pick up than they already are.
Silva is an exceptional talent.
Cesc Fabregas
Jose Mourinho has rotated Fabregas this season, playing him alongside Nemanja Matic in the pivot, or further forward as part of an attacking three in midfield.
Given the talent available in the pivot at Manchester City and Chelsea, Fabregas would be wasted there, hence his inclusion further forward in our combined XI.
Quite why Arsenal didn't act upon their right to first refusal when Fabregas was made available for transfer by Barcelona is baffling. The Gunners could use a player of his qualities, but instead it's Chelsea reaping the benefits.
Fabregas has been in fine form this season, picking up assists in his first four Premier League games, while also scoring his first Chelsea goal against Schalke in midweek.
He is a smooth operator and would start in the No. 10 position, ready and able to feed the lone striker.
Striker
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Diego Costa
Are we allowed to name 12 players in our team?
There is some considerable attacking talent missing out by the restrictions of making football teams the usual XI!
Manchester City have Sergio Aguero, Eden Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to call upon up front, while Chelsea themselves have Didier Drogba and Loic Remy.
None of the above can match Diego Costa right now.
The Spanish international has bagged seven goals in just four Premier League games, breaking records in the process.
He has made a mockery of Premier League defences and his scoring form shows no sign of abating, either.
Costa has the look of a man on a mission—a man determined to do the one thing Chelsea strikers have struggled to achieve in recent seasons and that's to bring the title back to Stamford Bridge.
Leading the line for our combined XI, Costa would make this Manchester City-Chelsea line-up the ultimate winning machine.
He's struggling with hamstring strain right now, too, so imagine him fully fit.
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Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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