EPL: Chelsea hopes to extend lead as they welcome Man City today

Tomiwa Babalola

As the contention for the title of the English Premier League continues today, football fans eagerly awaits the crunch game between last season's EPL champions, Manchester City and the current league leaders, Chelsea.

The two sides played a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Ethiad stadium in September, but the Stamford Bridge side leads the park with 52 points in 22 games and Manchester City following with 47 points also in 22 games.

Chelsea will hope to extend their lead as the leader of the league as they host Manchester City, who will also be hoping to close in on the gap between them and the leaders. The clash will kick off at 1730 GMT.

Jose Mourinho will have to make adjustments to his side as Cesc fabregas and Diego Costa will both miss the game due to injury and match ban, while the defending champions will have to do without the centre power, Yaya Toure, who is currently on national assignment with Ivory Coast in Equitorial guinea.

Also in the league, fourth place Manchester United will play against Leicester City at Old Trafford, hoping to climb up with a victory in the game but United's left winger Ashley Young is unable to play due to a thigh injury.

On Sunday, Arsenal will play against Aston Villa at home. Arsenal are hoping to overtake their opponents Manchester United in the table this weekend.

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder captain, Mikel Arteta, is sidelined until April due to ankle problems. The match at the North London club's home ground, the Emirates Stadium, will kick off at 1330 GMT.