Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 5 Things Blues Must Do to Win

When Chelsea face Manchester City on Monday, they have a chance to win the match.

Obviously, it will be a tough task to defeat unbeaten City, but the Blues are playing good football. Coming off their best two matches of the year, Chelsea will look to keep the good run of form going, despite the competition.

The match is at Stamford Bridge, but that has been far from a fortress for the Blues. Andre Villas-Boas' squad will have their work cut out for them, but I have a list of five things Chelsea must do to earn three points.

Hold a Strong Defensive Line

This cannot be overstated. Chelsea have given up some cheap goals this year, but they are coming off two straight clean sheets.

Can that trend continue?

Maybe, maybe not. The odds point towards the not, but that can't be the mindset. Manchester City are a great attacking team, and they will push forward relentlessly. Chelsea must be prepared for it and tackle whenever possible.

Wherever they are on the field, the back four will need to win the ball. If they can consistently secure the ball, the back four will give City trouble and give themselves a good chance to overcome Roberto Mancini's powerful squad.

Stay Focused

Odds are, Chelsea will concede a goal to Manchester City.

That's fine; the Citizens have an incredible plus-35 goal differential in 14 games. Not too shabby, huh?

Rather than sit in awe at City's dominance, Chelsea need to remain focused. When they concede a goal to City, they need to keep it at one. Once City get on a roll, they have a five-spot on the scoreboard before you know it (just ask Sir Alex Ferguson), and things only get worse from there.

If Chelsea are able to respond to City's goal/s, the Blues will be in good shape. Whether it's a goal of their own, or simply a good chance, the Blues need to make sure City don't get too comfortable on the attack. Once that happens, Mario Balotelli starts shouldering in goals.

By the way, I loved the shoulder. It speaks perfectly to the type of arrogant, creative and talented player Balotelli is. He would give you a headache as his manager (mind you, there is an alleged whistle Balotelli heard), but the man can play.

Counter-Attack with Speed

Against Valencia, Chelsea seemed to hold back a little bit on their attack.

In doing so, they were able to drop their defenders, allowing their opponents to venture deeper into Chelsea territory. Then, once they won the ball, Chelsea counter-attacked with speed and purpose. In doing so, they were able to catch their opponents off-guard.

Against a team like Manchester City, counter-attacks will be important. If City are attacking ruthlessly, Chelsea will need to catch them pushing too far forward.

With that said, the counter-attacks need to come with a purpose. It is one thing to switch from one attacking third to another, but it doesn't mean a lot if it doesn't result in a quality chance (or goal).

When Chelsea counter, they need to do it quickly, before City are able to get bodies behind the ball. If Chelsea can get numbers in their favor on the attack, they stand a pretty good chance of scoring.

Finish Chances

Chelsea had dozens of chances against Newcastle United, and with the help of some great goalkeeping and poor finishing, the Blues were held to one goal for nearly 90 minutes.

Against Manchester City, those chances probably won't happen as often. Accordingly, Chelsea need to make sure the ball finds the back of the net.

Didier Drogba has looked good, scoring three times in the last two matches. Daniel Sturridge is playing well on the outside, even if he still looks uncomfortable out there.

Juan Mata continues be the maestro for Andre Villas-Boas, and he will need to play even better against City. If he can facilitate the other attackers, they need to bury their chances.

Chances will be abundant; goals, on the other hand, aren't guaranteed. It goes without saying, Chelsea need to make sure they score as much as possible.

Stop (or Slow Down) David Silva

Easier said than done.

David Silva has been the best player in the Premier League this season, and he is a big reason Manchester City have been scoring so many goals.

Whether he is scoring, assisting or setting up assists, it seems like Silva is always involved.

He roams the entire pitch, which makes it easy to lose him. Once he gets some space, his decision-making is sublime. If Andre Villas-Boas doesn't figure out a way to defend him, the Spaniard could bury Chelsea early.

The Blues need to play high-pressure defense against Silva, and get the ball away from his feet. By forcing him backward, Chelsea can take City out of their game and frustrate their playmaker.

Silva is the biggest game-changer. If Chelsea can find a way to shut him down, they have a good chance at three points.