Loic Remy, Kurt Zouma start for Chelsea against Manchester City

Jose Mourinho has put his faith in Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma for Chelsea's top-of-the-table showdown with Manchester City in the Premier League.

Remy is preferred to Didier Drogba as replacement for the suspended Diego Costa up front, and his French compatriot keeps his defensive place ahead of Gary Cahill.

Muscle injuries rule out Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis, with Ramires and Cesar Azpilicueta returning to the side. Youngsters Isaiah Brown, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen are on an inexperienced bench.

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is named only among the visiting substitutes on his first return to Stamford Bridge as City manager Manuel Pellegrini makes just one change to the side which lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal.

Bacary Sagna comes in for Pablo Zabaleta at right-back, for just his sixth league start of the season. Ivorian duo Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony are still at the Africa Cup of Nations, but Sergio Aguero is fit to lead the line.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy Subs: Cech, Cahill, Christensen, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Brown, Drogba

Man City: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner; Silva; Agüero Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Boyata, Kolarov, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko

Chelsea can go eight points clear of City with victory this evening. Watch Sports Mole's video preview below to discover our pre-match thoughts.

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