BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson is backing Manchester City to get the three points when they face Chelsea in the crunch Premier League encounter.

The former Liverpool defender thinks that Pep Guardiola’s side always step up their game for the big occasions and he is expecting them to win comfortably at the Etihad tomorrow:

“Chelsea have won their past six Premier League games and are obviously going extremely well. But I would always back Manchester City when they are at home against another big club. They often seem to find an extra gear in them, and they very rarely lose them.”

“There won’t be a repeat of the scoreline from last season, when City won 6-0, but I am still expecting Pep Guardiola’s side to win.”

Lawrenson has gone for a 2-0 win for the Citizens. Certainly, the home side should be the favourites for the match but it would be surprising if Chelsea don’t get on the scoresheet.

Even though City’s defence is not as bad as some pundits have made out, they are more vulnerable without Aymeric Laporte, and Chelsea do offer a major threat, which will be difficult to contain.

Having said that, though, manager Pep Guardiola will likely have a plan in place to exploit Frank Lampard’s young and inexperienced team. The Blues are not particularly great at keeping clean sheets so this could be a high scoring game.