Team News: Levi Colwill misses out for Chelsea, Manuel Akanji back for Manchester City

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is absent from the Chelsea squad for Sunday's Premier League fixture against Manchester City.

The academy graduate has been a regular starter for the Blues since impressing during a loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022-23.

However, he is missing from the group that has been named for the fixture with the champions, with his place going to Marc Cucurella.

That is the only alteration made by head coach Mauricio Pochettino with Enzo Fernandez having been passed fit after picking up a knock versus Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the week.

Reece James also retains his spot at right-back for the third game in succession, while Armando Broja returns to the substitutes' bench after a knee issue.

Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola has made five changes from the side that started the 3-0 victory over Young Boys in the Champions League.

Manuel Akanji - after a back spasm - Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku are all restored to the first XI.

John Stones misses out through injury, while Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jack Grealish are named among the replacements.

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Disasi, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Gallagher, Caicedo; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling

Subs: Petrovic, Gusto, Maatsen, Badiashile, Ugochukwu, Madueke, Matos, Mudryk, Broja

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland

Subs: Ortega, Carson, Phillips, Kovacic, Grealish, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis