Soccer Odds - Chelsea vs. Manchester City Match Preview

It isn't often that Chelsea is an underdog while playing at home. But for as well as Manchester City is playing at the moment, it's completely understandable. This is one of the bigger matches of the year, and with both of these teams coming off of Champions League matches in the middle of the week, that only heightens the anticipation for this one.

Don't miss the Barclays Premier League action from Stamford Bridge at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.

Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu

Chelsea +175
Manchester City +145
Draw +245
Over/Under 2.5

Odds Analysis

It feels like an eternity ago since Chelsea was last an underdog at home. Of course, it was only two years ago when that happened when the Blues were at their worst at the end of the Jose Mourinho era. That said, Chelsea hasn't done anything to deserve to be in this position.

This really is more about Manchester City than anything else. The Citizens have been out of this world in the Premier League early on in the season. They're sitting at the top of the table and have yet to lose, including outscoring teams 10-1 on the road.

That's why Manchester City is set at +145 as a short favorite.

The total is set at 2.5 with -140 vig on the over, a number that has become fairly par for the course for the Premier League in 2017.

Key Injuries

Daniel Drinkwater is going to be out for at least another few days after suffering a calf injury. The former Leicester City standout is going to be crucial for the Blues as this season wears on, and it's a shame that he isn't going to be in the lineup. David Luiz is also in the midst of a three-match suspension for his red card against Arsenal back on September 17.

City has stayed relatively healthy this year. Pep Guardiola won't have Benjamin Mendy in this match and likely for a long time. Vincent Kompany has a calf injury, but he figures to be available for this fixture.

Recent Form

Manchester City has had a couple really big matches in a row. The team crushed Crystal Palace 5-0 at home last weekend, and it followed that up with a 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Citizens have allowed just one goal in their last six matches, and that one against West Brom in the Carabao Cup shouldn't even count since that was far from a first team on the pitch.

Antonio Conte's team might have really turned a corner after a somewhat suspect start to the season. The team went on the road and kicked the snot out of Stoke City at Bet365 Stadium last weekend. But to follow that up with a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid was one of the best results this team has had in years. The Blues got a late winner from Michy Batshauyi, a goal that officially overturned what was a 1-0 deficit at the brand new Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

Free Soccer Betting Pick

We're really not sure what to make of this Chelsea team at the moment. The Blues are surely good, but they have some real problems at the back. Those problems didn't rear their ugly head against a poor offensive team like Atletico Madrid, but we have a hunch not having Drinkwater and Luiz in the lineup on Saturday is going to be a problem.

Manchester City is really starting to get some great play out of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, both of whom are in their early-20s. Sergio Aguero leads the team with six goals, while Leroy Sane has three goals out of the midfield.

That's all good enough for us to trust the Citizens on the road in what could be a higher-scoring match.

Barclays Premier League Odds: Manchester City 3, Chelsea 1

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