Manchester City v Chelsea: Can Jose Mourinho maintain his incredible record in the biggest Premier League games?

The Chelsea manager has arguably never faced such a stern test as the one against Manchester City tonight

Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea have no further plans in the January transfer window once the deals for Mohamed Salah and Juan Mata's exit are competed (GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho is a manager for the big occasion.

No other revels in the limelight quite so much, whether it's winding up his rivals, gesticulating furiously on the touchline or more often than not, toasting a victory.

The Chelsea manager enjoys an incredible record in the Premier League when it comes to taking on his nearest rivals.

Against the traditional big four - which during his previous spell in England consisted of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, Mourinho lost just two games. A three year spell that spanned 19 games saw defeats only against Liverpool in 2007 just before Mourinho left Stamford Bridge and against Manchester United in 2005 at Old Trafford.

His fine record has continued against those particular teams since he returned over the summer - with the four games against those particular sides yielding two wins and two draws.

But things changed a little while Mourinho was off winning the treble with Inter Milan and then La Liga with Real Madrid. That difference is the emergence of Manchester City.

Yet so far, even they haven't been able to stop Mourinho with the fixture between City and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this season ending 2-1 in favour of the darker set of blue shirts.

If that games is added to Mourinho's record in the Premier League against the traditional big four, the Special One's record stands at 24 games, 13 wins, 9 draws, 2 defeats.

That means Mourinho has avoided defeat an incredible 91.7 per cent of the time and has left with all three Premier League points 54.2 per cent of the time.

Most have said Chelsea will be up against it tonight at the Etihad, but with a record like Mourinho's, it could just be Manchester City who face the tougher task.