Man City v Chelsea: Raheem Sterling chasing landmark goal at Etihad

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling has scored 49 Premier League goals at the Etihad Stadium, and could become only the second player to reach 50 at the venue in the competition after Sergio Aguero, with 106.

Sterling will be hoping to do that Saturday after when Manchester City host Chelsea in a crucial battle as the Cityzens aim to go 13 points clear at the top of the log.

Sterling has been in a good goalscoring form of late and was voted December’s Premier League best player after scoring five times and claimed one assist across five matches during a month in which he reached 100 Premier League goals.

Sterling began December by assisting Ruben Dias’ opener in a 2-1 win at Aston Villa, before netting the first in a 3-1 success at Watford.

Against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he became the 32nd player to score 100 Premier League goals with a penalty to earn a 1-0 victory.

Another goal followed at Newcastle United, while he struck twice more in thrilling 6-3 Boxing Day win over Leicester City.

It is the third time Sterling has earned the prize and his first since November 2018.

This is just the second ever Premier League meeting between Man City and Chelsea as the top two sides in the division. The other came in January 2015, with second-placed City earning a 1-1 draw at leaders Chelsea.

After beating Liverpool 4-0 in July 2020, and Chelsea 1-0 earlier this season, City are looking to become the fourth English club to win three consecutive meetings with reigning European champions in all competitions, after Notts County (1982), Tottenham Hotspur (1983/84) and Everton (1984/85).

City’s Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in four goals in his last four Premier League matches against his former club Chelsea (three goals and one assist). Overall, he has scored four PL goals against the Blues, only finding the net more times in the competition against Arsenal (five).