CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER CITY

HAZARD AND MORATA CAN RULE THIS HIGH SOCIETY BASH

Coming at the end of a week when English football’s elite purred quite beautifully to reinforce a growing feeling that after years of failure, they’re finally back in the Champions League game, Chelsea versus Manchester City should be reclassified as a top level contest.

Both clubs have magic in their midst and are playing some of the most tactically intelligent football they’ve delivered for quite some time, so Stamford Bridge will play host to a genuine high society clash.

It should be juicy, very juicy indeed.

I must say that Chelsea were majestic in Madrid on Tuesday (Sept 26) night.

On and off the ball the Blues looked controlled and classy, unveiling arguably their most complete European performance ever, to inflict Atletico Madrid’s first defeat at their brand new stadium.

They couldn’t have wished for a greater confidence boost ahead of this massive domestic fixture.

In Antonio Conte’s shoes I’d stick with the 3-5-1-1 that’s now helped Chelsea outclass Spurs and Atletico.

On home turf picking an extra centre midfielder at a forward players’ expense could be construed as a negative plan, but I don’t think that’s a fair assessment.

If it works, it works.

Chelsea only had a 39 per cent share of possession in both victories over City last season anyway, and will probably have to settle for even less this time around.

Making their spine extra-solid is savvy.

And it’s not as if a trio of Tiemoue Bakayoko, N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas are just stoppers that run around a lot.

Bakayoko and Kante are developing a frighteningly strong partnership that marries great mobility with meticulous distribution. They are capable of bossing any engine room with their all-round quality, and when you add Fabregas to the mix, the cocktail tastes sweet.

Ahead of them, Conte has to stick with Eden Hazard playing just off Alvaro Morata.

The Belgian may have been late to this season’s party, but he was so sublime in Champions League action.

It’s harsh to leave Pedro and Willian out, but Hazard’s link up play with the super-bright Morata in a devilishly hard match, was just lavish to watch.

It’s a thing of beauty to see two of the world game’s jet set so in tune with one another.

They’ll picture themselves tearing Fernandinho, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi to shreds on breakaways this weekend, and I can see it happening.

To be fair to City, they are in incredible form too, grabbing goals off the shelves like they’re on special offer at the supermarket. They’ve also kept five clean sheets in their last six outings.

Pep Guardiola has major selection headaches though.

In what is a hammer blow, Sergio Aguero is understood to have suffered broken ribs in a car accident on his way back from watching a concert in Amsterdam on Thursday.

If confirmed it’s an injury that could keep him sidelined for a couple of months.

Just one goal away from equalling Manchester City’s club record of 177 strikes it is potentially cruel timing for the Argentine, but even worse news for his manager. Scoring six goals in his last five starts, Aguero was a shoo-in to start at Stamford Bridge.

The only plus is that it will make up the Spaniard’s mind over which forwards to name from the start.

Leroy Sane has been white hot over the last two or three weeks, Raheem Sterling is timing his runs and finishing with the prowess of a young Frank Lampard, and prodigal son Gabriel Jesus is electric at the moment.

Until a few hours ago at least one of them was set to be benched; I’d now fancy City to line up in a 4-3-3 with Sane and Sterling either side of Jesus in what still looks a formidable attack.

There’s bad news on the left back front too (very bad news) with confirmation that the brilliant Benjamin Mendy has ruptured his right anterior cruciate knee ligament.

Danilo and Fabian Delph are the most likely deputies, but neither can fly forward down the left with quite as much sparkle.

So whoever he picks, the balance of Guardiola’s elegant side will be adversely affected by Mendy’s absence. Not just now, but for the rest of the season.

Losing two of their key players, on a weekend when they run into a Chelsea side that’s building a gorgeous groove, swings this contest massively in the home side’s favour.

They will play like the away team at times, letting Manchester City come at them, but Conte’s men have to be favourites now.

Manchester’s hierarchy are marvellous this year, but a successful defence of their title should not be written off.

Prediction: Chelsea 2 Manchester City 1

MANCHESTER UNITED VS CRYSTAL PALACE

IT’S TIME TO UNLEASH RASHFORD AND MARTIAL TOGETHER

Jose Mourinho has got the masses talking about Manchester United for all the right reasons at the moment. Credit where credit’s due, his side is playing a highly accomplished brand of winning football.

But why won’t he start Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the same XI?

By my reckoning it’s now over a year since United started those two young talents in the same team as attacking midfielders.

We’ve sporadically seen them begin matches together in various competitions, but only when the England whiz kid has been selected as the striker.

It appears the manager does not want them to be his wide men at the same time.

Until now no one has been too bothered, but Martial and Rashford are both in such scintillating form at the moment, swapping starts on the left, that fans are beginning to feel it’s a waste to constantly leave one of them out. Understandably, they feel both deserve to keep their places.

Backed into a corner I’d choose Rashford (just) but surely there is justification to either lining them up on the left and right flanks – allowing them to switch wings – or to use Martial or Rashford in that space just behind Romelu Lukaku, with the other to their left.

The big Belgian has fine chemistry with the pair of them, and would welcome playing in closer quarters.

Jose will have his reasons for saying no, but a home fixture against this season’s Premier League whipping boys, Crystal Palace, feels like it might be the ideal moment to unleash them on the same team sheet.

If he does, don’t be surprised if Manchester United dish out another hiding for the Eagles.

From the Palace perspective, they could really do without this match.

In fact if you offered Roy Hodgson a respectable 1-0 defeat right this second, without having to go through the torture of the real thing, I am pretty sure he’d take it.

His players lack belief right now, and it could get messy.

To make matters worse for the winless, goalless, basement boys, they have now lost Christian Benteke to injury.

With no obvious stand-in on the books (what a poor recruitment oversight that was) we might see pacy winger Bakary Sako used as a makeshift forward.

Playing the role of lone Crystal Palace striker at Old Trafford this weekend sounds like the most thankless of thankless tasks, but someone has to do it.

Hodgson is a decent organiser, and will create a solid defensive shape, but there’s no sign of an upset happening here.

Manchester United have found a taste for winning, and they won’t pass up the chance to gobble up this basic portion.

Prediction: Manchester United 4 Crystal Palace 0

NEWCASTLE UNITED VS LIVERPOOL

WILL RAFA RATTLE HIS BELOVED REDS?

I nearly choked on my muesli when I read reports earlier this week that Newcastle United are opening talks with Rafa Benitez over a new contract.

The Spaniard warrants a better long-term deal, but we all know he can’t stand owner Mike Ashley, and thanks to broken promises over transfer funds this summer, their relationship is, according to sources, virtually non-existent.

So if Benitez, who has enhanced his already excellent reputation at St James’ Park, decides to commit his future to the club while the working environment is this fractured (and when big clubs will be queuing up to land him), I’d be flabbergasted.

He loves the Magpies fans, and they adore him back, but this manager and this owner won’t be bed-fellas for too much longer. They are alpha males that need to rule the roost.

If the club isn’t sold soon, Rafa will soon say enough is enough and walk.

This weekend he will stand tall in his technical area though, for supporters of both clubs are certain to sing his name from the rafters.

Liverpool fans have long memories, and will always be grateful for that magical fifth European crown in Istanbul.

And knowing what a good tactician he is, they will fear there’s a carefully worked plan in place for Newcastle to hurt his former club on Tyneside. Nullifying the Reds’ firepower will be his top priority.

On that score I’d expect the hosts to defend incredibly deep and to play with real heart, but does the Newcastle United gaffer have the players he needs to get the job done, just as he envisages it?

That’s where the problem lies in my opinion.

The likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Mikel Merino and Matt Ritchie are all playing well, but it’s a big ask for the team as a whole to handle Liverpool’s outstanding attack.

Based on form this could easily become a Samba-inspired Coutinho-Firmino show.

He may have fancied the Nou Camp over a trip to Newcastle, but Coutinho is playing extraordinarily well now that he’s back in the first team.

I’m tipping him to score in a comfortable away success, and there won’t be a lot Rafa will be able to do about it.

Prediction: Newcastle United 0 Liverpool 2