Manchester City host Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side look to usurp the Blues at the top of the division.

City have won three of their last four league games, but haven’t won at home in the league since a 4-0 success over Bournemouth on September 24.

Since then, Everton, Southampton, and Middlesbrough have all come away with a share of the spoils, and Guardiola will be hoping that his side can finally get that much-needed victory on Saturday.

However, they will be up against the most in-form team in England, as Antonio Conte’s Chelsea will arrive at the Etihad on Saturday on the back of seven straight Premier League victories, including wins over Manchester United, Everton, and Tottenham.

Christian Eriksen’s strike for Spurs was the first goal the Blues have conceded since September 24, which coincides with Conte’s switch to a back three, which has seen Chelsea rise from a lowly tenth in the division to top of the pile.

With the build-up well underway ahead of Saturday’s clash, we’ve analysed the THREE key battles that will ultimately decide the outcome at the Etihad…

David Luiz v Sergio Aguero

David Luiz has been excellent at the heart of the Chelsea back three this season, but he’ll come up against one of the best strikers in the league in Sergio Aguero on Saturday.

The City forward has scored 16 goals in 18 games this season, including ten in the Premier League, and netted both in their 2-1 win over Burnley last week.

Conte has given Luiz huge responsibility in the middle of the back three, and is likely to do so again on Saturday.

It will be up to him to remain disciplined and positionally aware at the Etihad as, like Aguero has proven so many times before, the slight glimmer of a chance could be in the back of the net.

Yaya Toure v Nemanja Matic

The return of Yaya Toure and the sensational form of Nemanja Matic is sure to be one battle that decides the outcome on Saturday.

City midfielder Toure has been out of the team for most of the campaign, but returned by netting twice in their 2-1 win at Crystal Palace ten days ago, and then started again in the victory at Burnley last weekend.

However, what role Guardiola wants his man to play could be an enormous part of Saturday’s encounter.

Toure has been criticised in the past for being ill-disciplined in the defensive midfield role and, if he’s selected there against Chelsea, he quite simply can’t be, otherwise the Blues will dominate the middle through Matic and N’Golo Kante, and likely win the match.

Nonetheless, Toure played that role brilliantly against Palace, completely controlling the game from there, and that should give City fans much optimism going into Saturday.

Yet, he’ll be up against the brilliant Matic, who has added attacking influence to his game this season having recorded the most number of assists in the Chelsea team with six.

Him and Kante are as good as any midfield partnership in the league, but it’ll be up to Toure and Fernandinho to minimise their influence and get the better of them if City want to get a win.

Nicolas Otamendi v Diego Costa

Nicolas Otamendi has arguably been City’s best defender so far this season, but he faces a stern test against an in-form Chelsea frontline on Saturday, most notably Diego Costa.

The Spanish international has scored ten league goals already this season, level at the top of the standings with Aguero, and has also laid on four assists for his teammates.

That Chelsea front three of him, Eden Hazard, and Pedro have been in scintillating form in recent weeks, and they are all on the same wavelength, which makes it really difficult to defend against.

However, Otamendi will be charged with trying to keep Costa quiet and frustrated and, although both men have a history of being rash at times, it’s imperative that both keep their emotions in check on Saturday.