erling-haaland-usatsi-man-city.jpg
USATSI

Two of the Premier League's top teams square off the in third round of the 2022-23 EFL Cup on Wednesday when Manchester City host Chelsea. City have been playing at a high level in the English Premier League as they try to defend their 2021-22 title. They sit second in the table, just two points behind Arsenal, and remain the clear favorite to win the title. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been in a funk in league play, losing consecutive matches. The most recent was a 1-0 setback to Arsenal on Sunday, but a 4-1 loss the previous weekend was more concerning. Manager Graham Potter, who took over in September, is dealing with injuries and confidence issues as he tries to right the ship. City won both league meetings last season and have won the EFL Cup four of the past five years. The exception was last year, when Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw.   

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET in Manchester, England. Caesars Sportsbook lists City as a -220 favorite (risk $220 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Manchester City vs. Chelsea odds. Chelsea are a +550 underdog, a draw is priced at +330 and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5. Before you make any Chelsea vs. Manchester City picks, make sure you check out the EFL Cup best bets from proven SportsLine soccer insider Martin Green. 

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been spot-on. Green has generated almost $33,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season. He is 9-6 on his past 15 soccer picks in all competitions and has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.

Now, Green has broken down the Manchester City vs. Chelsea matchup from every angle and just revealed his picks and EFL Cup predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Chelsea vs. Manchester City:

  • Man City  vs. Chelsea spread: City -1.5 (+125)
  • Man City  vs. Chelsea over/under: 2.5 goals 
  • Man City  vs. Chelsea money line: City -220, Chelsea +550, Draw +330 
  • MC: The Citizens have conceded more than one goal once in their past 15 games 
  • CHE: The Blues have scored two or more goals in seven of their past 11 matches 
  • Man City vs. Chelsea picks: See picks here

Why you should back Manchester City 

The Citizens dominated both meetings last season, averaging 58% of possession. They held the Blues to one shot on target over the two matches and had a 26-9 advantage in shots overall. Star striker Erling Haaland, who scored the winner in a 2-1 victory against Fulham on Saturday for his 23rd goal in 17 games, could start on the bench as he recovers from an ankle issue. But Julian Alvarez, who scored his sixth goal in Saturday's victory, is a capable substitute. City already have more depth than the Blues and now face a Chelsea side wracked by injuries.

Alvarez will have plenty of excellent support no matter which way manager Pep Guardiola goes. Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish are among many attackers who boast elite skill, and Rodri can set them up for success. Foden has seven goals and five assists, while Mahrez has three goals and Rodri has set up three. City have scored 39 goals in league play, while the Blues have scored just 17, and only two EPL teams have allowed fewer than City's 11. 

Why you should back Chelsea

The Blues got off to a strong start under Potter before a recent downturn, and they played well in the Champions League. They were unbeaten in their first nine matches under the manager (6-3-0), winning five straight at one point, and scoring 16 goals while conceding four. They rebounded from the 4-1 loss to Brighton by beating Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in the UCL before Sunday's loss to the Gunners. 

They are still playing solid defense, allowing 16 goals in their 13 EPL matches. They have conceded more than one goal just four times in 19 matches overall.  City lead the Premier League in possession, but Chelsea are third, so it should be a pretty even match. Both teams are likely to make significant changes, and if Haaland remains on the bench to get more rest, that will certainly be good news for Chelsea. USMNT star Christian Pulisic and Conor Gallagher, who both have one goal in limited starts, could play bigger roles Wednesday. 

How to make Manchester City vs. Chelsea picks

Green has taken a close look at the Man City vs. Chelsea match from every angle, and he is leaning Under on the goal total. He also provides two confident best bets, including a strong plus-money play on a rare starter to score a goal, and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing his picks and analysis here.

So, who wins Chelsea vs. Manchester City? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Manchester City vs. Chelsea, all from the European soccer expert who has generated almost $33,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.