Chelsea vs. Manchester City: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape EPL Game
It's the big one.
Chelsea host Manchester City on Saturday in what's being billed as a Premier League title showdown.
With 15 games still to play after this clash, it's not quite that dramatic, but the point remains that it is the biggest game of the season so far.
A win for Chelsea will see them move eight points clear of City at the top of the table. It's not an insurmountable lead, but as we head into February, it's certainly a commanding one.
On the flip side, should City come away victorious, they'll move to within two points of Chelsea, beating them at Stamford Bridge to gain a psychological edge.
Given the quality of both sides, it's a game that will be decided by fine margins.
So what are the issues and decisions that will make the difference? We take a closer look.
Will Chelsea Have the Legs After Extra-Time Against Liverpool?
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Chelsea may have beaten Liverpool 1-0 in midweek to advance to the Capital One Cup final, but were Manchester City the real winners?
We'll find out come the final whistle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Not only did Chelsea face a difficult semi-final on Tuesday, the game went more than the distance, with extra-time needed to separate the teams.
That means the likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard all played two hours of high-intensity football.
Jose Mourinho brushed off the impact that would have on his team, but he must be concerned knowing a difficult fixture with City comes on the back of that game.
Added to it, Filipe Luis and Cesc Fabregas both hobbled off injured, meaning they could miss the City game.
Diego Costa's Looming Suspension
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With the aforementioned injuries picked up by Filipe Luis and Cesc Fabregas against Liverpool, if Diego Costa is suspended on the back of his violent conduct charge from the same game, Chelsea are suddenly looking thin on bodies.
Costa isn't just any player, either; he is the Premier League's leading goalscorer.
The Spanish international has given Chelsea an edge in attack this season and, if he is missing on Saturday, you can be sure Vincent Kompany et al will have a better night's sleep the night before.
Chelsea's alternatives to replace Costa are Didier Drogba and Loic Remy. Both are more than capable, but with limited game time of late, will they be sharp enough to breach City's rearguard?
Without Costa, Chelsea will be significantly weakened.
The on-Going 'Campaign' Against Chelsea
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Is there a campaign against Chelsea right now? Not really, but it has to be said that Jose Mourinho has plenty of reasons for feeling hard done by.
The Chelsea boss has watched on frustrated how his team has been given a raw deal at times, with some key decisions going against them.
Diego Costa escaped a potential red card against Liverpool on Tuesday night, but then he was also denied a penalty when Martin Skrtel fouled him inside the box.
That was just one incident and they are beginning to pile up.
How is the media storm surrounding this going to impact the referee on Saturday? Can he keep a cool head with all the pressure that comes with officiating such a high-profile game? Will Mourinho's comments influence him into being more lenient with the Blues? Will it have an adverse affect?
It's all becoming somewhat of a circus—which is exactly what Mourinho wants. He's seeking an advantage for his team wherever he can and he's hoping he can create enough of a storm to get a reaction from match officials.
Will the decisions go Chelsea's way?
Yaya Toure's Absence Due to the Africa Cup of Nations
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Ivory Coast have reached the quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations where they face Algeria on Sunday.
That game comes 24 hours after Chelsea and Manchester City have locked horns, meaning Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony remain out of contention for Manuel Pellegrini's side.
We haven't quite seen Toure at his prolific best this season, yet there is no doubting he would strengthen City at Stamford Bridge.
Toure is a significant presence in this City team and without him they have lacked the physical edge he brings.
Toure is a powerful runner and even when not at his best, his presence alone can influence a game.
He will be missed in central midfield, an area that Nemanja Matic dominates.
Does Sergio Aguero Start for Manchester City?
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While Chelsea have striker concerns of their own with Diego Costa, so too do Manchester City.
Since his return from injury, Sergio Aguero has struggled to get back into his goalscoring rhythm.
He hasn't played much since early December, but he is without a goal since his brace against Sunderland. That came almost two months ago and injury or not, now that he's back playing, it will be on Aguero's mind.
Outside of the Argentinean, City's other strikers aren't hitting form either.
Stevan Jovetic has scored just once in his last seven matches while Edin Dzeko hasn't found the back of the net in club colours since late September.
New-boy Wilfried Bony is on international duty, of course.
So who does Manuel Pellegrini go for to lead the line?
Frank Lampard's Stamford Bridge Return
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Chelsea aren't planning on doing anything to commemorate Frank Lampard's career with the club when he returns on Sunday.
It's probably a good thing for the Blues and Lampard.
There's a risk of this game becoming all about Lampard's return to west London and Chelsea do not want that to overshadow anything.
There's a game to win, after all.
How will Lampard feel to be returning? What will the emotional reaction be from the Stamford Bridge crowd? How will his former teammates deal with it?
It's going to be a surreal moment to witness him lined up in the tunnel in a lighter shade of blue.
Lampard deserves a rousing reception from the Chelsea fans. He did so much for their club and they can afford him that much.
They just need to hope he doesn't come away with three points.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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