In the Blues' case, they're also looking for a new manager after Enzo Maresca sensationally left the club in the wake of some tension behind the scenes.
Maresca's departure comes at the wrong time for Chelsea
What makes this particular fixture even more intriguing is that there have been strong recent rumours that Maresca could be taking over from Pep Guardiola at City in time for the start of the 2026/27 season, and the Italian used to form part of the Catalans' backroom staff, of course, so he knows the club and how it works well.
Now that Maresca is essentially a free man, the stage is already set for him to take up such a position if and when it's offered.
That's always assuming that Guardiola has no intention of carrying on past the end of this campaign, and judging by the passion he showed on the sidelines at the Stadium of Light, he still has unfinished business with his expensively assembled squad.
City pegged back at Sunderland
Though the draw on Wearside will have been disappointing for a City side that was looking to move back to within two points of Premier League leaders, Arsenal, it did extend their unbeaten run to seven matches, whilst Chelsea are winless in three and could end the weekend as low as ninth.
If the Blues can begin the post-Maresca era with a much-needed victory, they'll start the process of reeling back in the top four - though three points would still put them a mammoth eight behind City.
The last fixture between them at the Etihad Stadium saw the hosts run out as comfortable 3-1 winners, with the Cityzens being unbeaten in the last eight Premier League meetings.
At home this season, City have been imperious too, winning eight of their nine games to date, and drawing the other. In their last six home and away, they've won five and drawn one.
Haaland to open his New Year account?
The Blues have just the one win in their last half-dozen and not since May 2021 have the West Londoners been able to celebrate a top-flight victory against Guardiola's swashbucklers. So, what better time to do so than at the start of a new cycle at the club?
Erling Haaland scored in the last home win against Chelsea, and with 19 goals already this season, who would bet against him making it 20 after being shut out at the Stadium of Light on New Year's Day?
The visitors will be looking to Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez (six and five goals respectively) to fire them to victory, with the latter, despite ostensibly being employed as a central midfielder, also having the most shots in total this season for the Blues (37) and the most on target (16).
That, perhaps, says more about Chelsea's strike force than anything else, even if one takes into account that the Argentinian enjoys playing in a more advanced attacking midfield role for the most part.
Chelsea's growing injury list
In terms of injuries and suspensions, the visitors are without Moises Caicedo after he picked up a fifth yellow card recently, and Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended indefinitely.
Caicedo's absence will hurt the Stamford Bridge outfit, as will Marc Cucurella's injury and the problems that Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and Jorrel Hato are struggling with.
City's roll call of injured stars sees Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic miss out, with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush still at the Africa Cup of Nations and therefore also unavailable.
Quite how the visitors will set up on Sunday under the interim guidance of their U21 manager, Calum McFarlane, is anyone's guess, and regardless of the result, it's certainly in the board's interest to replace Maresca full-time at the earliest opportunity.
Goals virtually guaranteed
With only 21 goals conceded in their 19 games so far, it's entirely possible that, against the highest scorers in the division - City have 43 goals - Chelsea use Sunderland's blueprint and look to utilise a backs-against-the-wall defensive performance, and breaking at pace when opportunity allows.
Their defence is at its tightest right after half-time, though their Achilles Heel has clearly been that teams have been able to score reasonably freely at all other times.
City haven't conceded in the first 15 minutes of any game this season, but they too have let in at least one goal at various points throughout their games from then on.
The game virtually guarantees goals on Sunday, as it has been five matches since Chelsea played out a goalless draw, and 20 since City were involved in one.
Should the hosts get on the scoresheet first, it's likely to be a long way back for the visitors, given that Guardiola's side have won 13, drawn one and lost one when taking the lead in games during the 2025/26 campaign.
If Chelsea are behind at the break, for example, they've not gone on to win a single match this season.
Therefore, a delicate balancing act between defensive excellence and choosing their attacking moments wisely is likely to be the only way the Blues will come close to beating a side that always seems to save their best form for after the turn of the year.
