No space for Werner in Chelsea vs Man City Ultimate XI

Chelsea's welcome of Manchester City was at risk of being called off after a COVID-19 outbreak in the latter's camp. City's trip to Everton last week was postponed after a number of first team players tested positive for the virus, but today's game at Stamford Bridge will go ahead as planned. 

However, City are without a handful of first team players, with Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson all sidelined for Pep Guardiola's side. Frank Lampard has a number of injury concerns too. Hakim Ziyech was pictured back in training this week, though it remains to be seen whether the Moroccan will be rushed into first team action, but Reece James is sidelined with a hamstring problem, robbing Lampard of his favoured right sided duo. 

Ahead of the clash, we look at the best rated combined XI of the two teams, featuring those who have made 10 or more league appearances this season, and excluding those absent from today's game in west London. 

By default, Edouard Mendy (6.53) occupies the spot between the sticks given Ederson's absence, but had the Brazilian been fit to feature he'd have still missed out with the City number one garnering a WhoScored rating of 6.50 this season. 

Joao Cancelo (7.29) is the sole City representative in the defence, occupying the spot at right-back with the Portuguese defender impressing for Guardiola's side in 2020/21. It's Chelsea's preferred starting centre-back duo of Kurt Zouma (7.28) and Thiago Silva (6.97) that feature at the heart of the defence, while Ben Chilwell (7.15) rounds off the backline. 

Former Chelsea man Kevin De Bruyne (7.48) is the highest rated player between the two sides with the Belgian exceptional once again this term. Mason Mount (7.35) is the Blues' best rated performer in the Premier League this season and joins De Bruyne in the midfield, a position rounded off by ball winning machine N'Golo Kante (6.98). 

Spearheading this attack is the final Chelsea representative. Tammy Abraham (7.03) may have feared for his Chelsea career when the west London side announced the capture of Timo Werner, but with six goals to his name, Abraham is the Blues' top scorer in the Premier League this season. 

International teammate Raheem Sterling (7.08) features from the left flank and his inclusion ensures that Werner (7.01) misses out on a place in the XI. Algerian star Riyad Mahrez (7.26) completes this XI with the City winger shining from the right for Guardiola's team.