Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has described Sunday's clash with Chelsea as "an important moment" in the season but adds that it will not decide the Premier League title race.

The two teams are almost neck and neck after eight games, with the West London club just a point ahead of the Citizens in second place.

"Of course it is an important moment, [it is] always important playing against a team that has a lot of chance to win the Premier League," the Chilean told reporters.

"I repeat the same thing I said when we played against Manchester United, it is a match of six points.

"We have a lot of games in the future. It is an important game but it will not decide nothing."

City will be playing their third successive game away from home following wins over West Ham United and CSKA Moscow.