Manchester City vs Chelsea team news: Diego Costa starts for Blues, Raheem Sterling handed home debut
Team news from the recently expanded Etihad Stadium
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is able to name Diego Costa in his starting line-up for the Premier League trip to title rivals Manchester City.
The Spain international is perpetually touch-and-go with recurrent injury problems, but the Portuguese boss is happy to start him over Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy.
Asmir Begovic continues in goal for the visitors as Thibaut Courtois continues to serve his three match ban for being sent off against Swansea City last weekend.
City, meanwhile, hand a home debut to new signing Raheem Sterling while the impressive David Silva continues in midfield.
Bacary Sagna starts at right-back while Vincent Kompany will provide his unique blend of stability and authority at the back.
Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Sterling, Aguero.
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Nasri, Demichelis, Bony, Iheanacho.
Chelsea: Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Subs: Blackman, Zouma, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Falcao, Remy.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies