There was a time in the late 2000s that Chelsea and Liverpool played each other eight times across two seasons. The Blues could take things one step further this year though after being drawn with Manchester City in the FA Cup third round.
Having already faced off against each other in the Carabao Cup in the final week before the domestic break - a game in which Graham Potter's side lost 2-0 - Chelsea could face the league champions three times in January alone.
Potter's hopes of securing a serious cup run have been dealt a great blow. City are the domestic cup kings - despite not winning the FA Cup since 2019. They have won the League Cup six times in the last eight years.
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They will also have a great chance to get to know Potter even better. Guardiola and the former Brigthon man have been admirers of each other and will have to get used to playing one another this term.
Alongside the two league matches - both of which have to be played upon the league's resumption - there has already been a cup match between the teams. Add in the FA Cup tie and they will be meeting four times at minimum.
Should the third-round game end as a draw there would be a replay at Stamford Bridge, that's a potential fifth match-up. Then, depending on European progression, Potter and Guardiola could still watch their teams face off at least once more.
If both Chelsea and Manchester City were to reach the Champions League final - like the 2020/21 season - then that would be a sixth game. If they fate allowed it, they could instead play two knockout games from the quarter-finals onwards.
This all means that there could be seven meetings between the teams in all competitions - and that would cover every competition. Not only this, the league game between the sides will be in the midweek leading up to the FA Cup tie which is due to be played on the weekend of January 6-9.
Chelsea faced Manchester City four times in 2020/21 after playing in the FA Cup semi-final and Champions League final. Thomas Tuchel started with a brilliant record of three wins from three over Guardiola before then failing to get another one over the Spaniard. Potter will be hoping things go better for him over the next six months.
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