MAN CITY 2, CHELSEA 1
Manchester City found Chelsea a totally different proposition to last season when Pep Guardiola’s men recorded a resounding 6-0 victory against the side managed by Maurizio Sarri.
This time it was a nervy 2-1 scoreline as new manager Frank Lampard’s young team again showed what an exciting future lies ahead for the Pensioners.
City, beaten last time out at Liverpool, needed to display grit after falling behind to a N’Golo Kante goal as Chelsea looked every inch a side that had won six straight league matches.
They hit back through goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez in a pulsating game that had everything for the neutral and the armchair viewers, even a VAR controversy in stoppage time when City were denied a clinching third goal after Raheem Sterling’s shoulder was deemed offside.
City held on, though it was an uncomfortable afternoon in which Chelsea were far from intimidated.
Indeed, City seldom surrender more possession than opponents at home or away.
Here Chelsea had 53 per cent of the ball and a creditable 11 goal attempts to City’s 15, an indication as to how close a contest it was.
Indeed, it was the first time in 381 top-flight games managed by Guardiola that his side had surrendered possession to an opponent.
Guardiola described it a “great victory” praising Chelsea saying manager Frank Lampard’s team played with “courage”.
City’s manager conceded Chelsea were the better side early on when they took the lead.
“In the second half we were much better and had enough chances to score more goals,” he said.
Guardiola added the only negative were injuries to Sergio Aguero, Rodrigo and David Silva.
He admitted Aguero’s muscular injury “does not look good” but Rodrigo and Silva’s were more a case of cramp and the players being tired.
Lampard said he wanted to be “brave, both on and off the ball”.
He said: “The finer detail in both boxes probably settled the game.
“We lost but gave a very good performance but what mattered was in both boxes.
“Manchester City and Liverpool have worked hard together and got those finer details together.”
City made five changes from the side that lost at Liverpool before the international break.
There were recalls for Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Mendy, David Silva and Riyad Mahrez.
Losing out were Claudio Bravo, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Angelino and the suspended Bernardo Silva.
Chelsea had some big hitters in reserve on their bench. Olivier Giroud, Pedro, Michy Batshuayi, and Mason Mount.
In a lively opening, both sides could have found the net in the opening eight minutes.
De Bruyne was released by Aguero but he fired a couple of feet wide.
Equally close was Chelsea’s Willian after he was put through by Tammy Abraham.
Centre-back Fikayo Tomori also fired narrowly wide from a corner as Chelsea again asked questions of City’s defence.
City failed to heed those warnings as Chelsea took the lead midway through the opening period.
Mateo Kovacic lofted a pass over the City defence and Kante raced through eluding a challenge from Mendy before slotting a shot low past the advancing Ederson.
It was Kante’s third league goal of the season from only three on target goal attempts.
City were level just short of the half hour through De Bruyne with their first shot on target.
David Silva’s cross deflected off Kurt Zouma to De Bruyne whose shot took a nick off Zouma to wrong foot goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for his third goal of the season.
City were ahead in the 37th minute through Mahrez who cut in from the right in-between two players before bending a low shot through the legs of Tomori and past Arrizabalaga, his fourth goal of the season.
And City almost scored a third goal late in the half after Arrizabalaga’s clearance went straight to Aguero who lobbed the keeper only to see his shot hit the crossbar.
Mahrez again cut in from the left only this time to shoot narrowly wide.
City made their first change six minutes after the restart when Rodrigo made way for Gundogan.
Chelsea came close to equalising when Kante’s goalbound shot deflected off Fernandinho for a corner.
City had chances to extend their lead when the fingertips of Arrizabalaga denied De Bruyne while Cancelo’s effort was blocked on the line by Azpilicueta while Chelsea’s keeper did well to tip over an effort from, Mahrez.
David Silva picked up a knock and was replaced by Phil Foden midway through the half.
Worringly for City, Aguero limped off with 14 minutes left to be replaced by Gabriel Jesus.
Foden forced a save from Arrizabalaga and then fired just wide in this see-saw encounter.
Willian’s fine effort was tipped over by Ederson, though referee Martin Atkinson awarded a goal kick.
There was drama in the four minutes of added time.
First Mount’s free kick from 30 yard flashed wide as Chelsea almost made it 2-2.
City thought they had made it 3-1 through Sterling’s 93rd minute effort only for VAR to rule Sterling’s shoulder was offside to the fury of fans.
Fortunately for City the decision did not influence the final result as City jumped over Chelsea into third place.