Saturday 15 August 2015 20:08, UK
Last season’s top two in the Premier League, Chelsea and Manchester City, go head-to-head live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
There will be plenty of star names on show – but which players would make it into a combined XI?
We asked Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson to pick his combined Manchester City-Chelsea XI of players fit and available for this weekend’s fixture. However, he could find no room for City's £49m signing Raheem Sterling...
GK: Joe Hart
With Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois suspended, Hart goes in goal. He took a lot of unnecessary stick last season, but he has bounced back and is up there in the top three goalkeepers in the Premier League.
RB: Branislav Ivanovic
Chelsea's Ivanovic got the runaround from Jefferson Montero on Saturday, which I haven't seen for a very long time, but he is still a world class right-back. Strong in both a defensive and attacking sense, he is perfect for Mourinho's sides.
CB: John Terry
Terry was the best centre-back in the Premier League last season. His age could catch up with the Chelsea skipper, but at this moment he is as good as anybody. His faith in Mourinho is there for all to see, and Mourinho is to thank for Terry's resurgence after some difficult times under previous managers.
CB: Vincent Kompany
I know City captain Kompany didn't have a good season last year, but the year before I thought he was the best centre-half in the world. He scored on Monday night against West Brom and it looked like a release of energy from him, he looks positive and back again. I think last season he was looking after everybody else and not looking at his own game, running around doing everyone else’s job like a super captain. He will have assessed that.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta
Chelsea's Azpilicueta is a steady full-back; he does nothing wrong and never really gets the runaround. He's consistently 7/10 and can play anywhere across the back four. Every title winner has one of these players in their team.
DM: Nemanja Matic
Matic is the best holding midfield player in the country. Not much was made of his arrival when he re-joined Chelsea, despite the big fee, but he was the final piece of the jigsaw for Mourinho in his midfield. He looks so calm but can win the ball back in any position, no matter how vulnerable Chelsea may look.
AM: Yaya Toure
When Toure plays like he played on Monday against West Brom he is unplayable. When he fancies it you can't play against him, but when he isn't up for it you can wrap his kit up and put it in the skip. He doesn't do much. His strengths far outweigh his weaknesses, though, and we've seen him have off seasons before only to return stronger.
AMR: Eden Hazard
Chelsea's Hazard always wants the ball, he's never phased by any occasion and makes things happen week in, week out - not just every so often. He can be player of the season again with ease, but trust me, what he does is not easy.
AML: David Silva
Another who always wants the ball is City's Silva - no matter how tight the space is. It's his confidence on the ball and his willingness to get involved that makes him so vital for City. Playing in a side with him must be a dream, he is an outlet of the attack for most goals City score.
CF: Diego Costa
Costa is a must for Chelsea, and he has to play on Sunday. If he doesn't, I don't think they get a result. But there's a problem: when you have a hamstring problem it is really difficult. I saw an instance against Swansea when Hazard played a sweet ball to Costa, the goalkeeper slid out and got there ahead of Costa. If Costa was fully fit he would have slid in and made sure the 'keeper knew he was there.
CF: Sergio Aguero
Aguero's movement is second to none, he's got a low centre of gravity and he's the full package as a striker. I'd have loved to play with him, he will make something out of even the worst balls if he can.
Watch Man City v Chelsea live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm on Sunday. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.
