Premier League leaders Chelsea host fourth place Manchester City this evening (8pm kick-off) looking to take another step closer to the title.

Antonio Conte’s men suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday to see their lead at the top cut to seven points, given that second place Tottenham won 2-0 at Burnley on the same day.

That loss, their first in the league since January, will have given Spurs belief that they can reel the Blues in, but the West London side could once again close the door by beating Pep Guardiola’s City tonight.

The Citizens drew 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday to slip to fourth in the Premier League table, but with a four-point lead over neighbours Manchester United in fifth, they still have a healthy gap despite drawing their last three league games.

Nonetheless, with just one league defeat in 2017, Guardiola’s men will be confident of getting a result at Stamford Bridge this evening in what should be a fascinating encounter.

So, with the build-up well underway ahead of tonight’s clash, we at Shoot! have analysed the THREE key battles which could determine the outcome in West London this evening…

David Luiz vs Sergio Aguero

Many people will be keeping a very close eye on the battle between David Luiz and Sergio Aguero at Stamford Bridge this evening.

That’s because it was the Argentine striker who got sent off for an awful challenge on the Chelsea defender when the two sides met back in December, and it’s a tackle the Brazilian is still feeling the effect of even now according to his boss.

And that should make things interesting given that City’s Aguero has been in decent form in recent weeks, having netted eight goals in his last eight games in all competitions.

And when you consider that Conte’s Blues haven’t kept a clean sheet in the league since the end of January, Luiz will have to be somewhere near the level he showed at the Etihad to keep the Argentine under wraps this evening.

There is obviously some needle between the two following the previous meeting, so expect quite the battle at Stamford Bridge tonight.

Pedro vs Leroy Sane

City will certainly look to exploit the Chelsea right-hand-side this evening should Victor Moses fail to return from injury.

The Nigerian international missed the 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday with a toe problem, with midfielder Pedro, who has scored seven goals in the Premier League this term, deputising at right wing-back.

And although the Spaniard was solid against the Eagles, there’s no doubt that he struggled in the defensive aspect of the game, which will be music to the ears of City’s left-sided forward Leroy Sane.

The 21-year-old netted his fourth league goal of the campaign in their 2-2 draw at Arsenal, and showed the pace and trickery that has seen him labelled as one of the brightest talents in Europe.

Although his decision-making and final ball needs improvement, Sane has the ability to make it a difficult evening for Pedro, although the Germany international will also have to be disciplined defensively, as the Chelsea man will look to get forward and influence the play in the attacking third.

Thus, it should be a fascinating battle between the two this evening.

Eden Hazard vs Pablo Zabaleta

Eden Hazard registered his fifth assist of the campaign on Saturday but it wasn’t enough to help Chelsea avoid defeat against Crystal Palace.

But it was another reminder that the Belgian is in fine form ahead of the run in.

The 26-year-old has scored 11 Premier League goals this term to help propel Conte’s men into a commanding position at the top of the division, with some individual moments of brilliance underlining his return to his 2014/15 form.

Hazard was hugely influential in the Blues’ 5-0 hammering of Everton back in November, a performance many labelled as one of the best in the Premier League era, while his solo strike against Arsenal in February was absolutely majestic.

And it all points to City right-back Pablo Zabaleta enduring a difficult evening at Stamford Bridge tonight.

The 32-year-old is likely to come in for the more attack-minded Jesus Navas as a result of Hazard’s stunning form this term, for what would be Zabaleta’s 11th league start of the season.

Quite simply, the Argentine will have to be at his very best, as well as get help from his City teammates, to thwart the 26-year-old this evening, and doing so may help Guardiola’s men get the three points.