Manchester City kick off their Carabao Cup campaign on Wednesday with a visit from Chelsea in the third round of the competition.
As is normal procedure, the Premier League clubs have been held back from entering the competition until the third round.
And while the Carabao Cup may be bottom of the list of priorities for both clubs, claiming a ‘big-six’ scalp this early on could be a boost of confidence for either side.
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With four wins from their last five matches, City should be heading into the tie brimming with confidence.
In their most recent outing, the Blues dispatched newly promoted Fulham 2-1 with a stoppage penalty winner from Erling Haaland, despite playing 64 minutes of the match with ten men after Joao Cancelo was sent off.
The celebrations at the Etihad after the dramatic victory put the team’s camaraderie on full display.
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As winners in five of the last six times in the Carabao Cup, City will be keen on using the competition to potentially snatch an early trophy.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have hit a rut in recent weeks.
The recent hiring of former Brighton boss Graham Potter has not yet gone to plan, as the West Londoners have failed to win in four straight matches - with their most recent defeat coming in a London Derby against Premier League leaders, Arsenal.
Last season, City showed their worth in games against the Stamford Bridge outfit, doing the double over Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea by a scoreline of 1-0 in each match.
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Former Chelsea player Kevin De Bruyne was at the heart of the two victories, which were vital six points gained in City’s push towards winning the Premier League title.
While the form-charts suggest that Pep Guardiola’s side have the upper hand coming into the tie on Wednesday, midweek cup ties can often be tricky to predict with possible player rotation in the two manager’s selections.
One man who may be keen on putting in a quality performance is Raheem Sterling, who will travel back to the Etihad Stadium for the first time since leaving the club for Chelsea in the summer.
While Sterling’s time at Stamford Bridge has been up and down, he could be in the mood to spoil the party for the home fans, who once sang his name.
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Where?
Manchester City's Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea will take place at the Etihad Stadium.
When?
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The third round tie will take place on Wednesday 9th November at 20:00 GMT.
How To Watch?
Wednesday's match will be live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football for viewers in the UK.
Topics: Manchester City, Chelsea, Carabao Cup, Pep Guardiola, Graham Potter
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Adam Booker