Chelsea 0, Manchester City 1
Super-sub Riyad Mahrez scored the goal that took Manchester City back back to within five points of Arsenal with a tight win at injury-hit Chelsea.
Embed from Getty ImagesBoth sides hit the woodwork in the game but City managed to survive a below-par first half to produce a match winning performance after the break after Chelsea had lost Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic to injury.
Man of the match John Stones reflected on a tough game at Stamford Bridge.
He said: “It’s a big three points for us after the other day [against Everton].
“We wanted to put it right today and we played especially well in the second half.
“We rushed too much in the first half and didn’t retain the ball as good as we usually do.
“Credit to Chelsea, we couldn’t get many balls through them today.
“But we’ve been working in training and it came off today.”
City boss Pep Guardiola was glad that his team won the game after a slow start.
He said: “We didn’t play good in the first half. Maybe it’s because some players were not playing in their position.
“We were sloppy and slow in the first half. In the second half we were much better.
“The second half was miles better and it was a big result for us.”
Guardiola lavished praise on Rico Lewis and the other substitutes once again, reserving praise for the 18-year-old who came on and instantly improved the side.
He said: “Rico has the ability to make all the team play better. He changed the game.
“Manu [Akanji] was really good, Kyle [Walker] finished the first half good.
“Riyad [Mahrez] I wanted to play because I’m sorry that Joao struggled on the right.
“There are players who came back from the World Cup and need good form.
“John Stones played an extraordinary World Cup. He can adapt to play in a three and is playing at the best level since he arrived seven years ago. He’s a fantastic player.”
Of Jack Grealish, he said “Jack’s body language is exceptional – he assisted in Leeds and he did it again today. He doesn’t have regrets – and these type of guys always play good.
“Now we have the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Old Trafford.
“Winning is so important for our mood and to reach the top of the league against Arsenal.”
Manchester City make four changes to win the game at Stamford Bridge through Riyad Mahrez
‘Overthinking’ is the first word that comes to mind when Pep Guardiola tries a bespoke line-up to try and outmanoeuvre the opposition.
City have had two recent disappointments at the Etihad with a defeat to Brentford and a draw against Everton leaving them eight points behind league leaders Arsenal.
And after the culmination of several weeks of public pressure to play Phil Foden the England youngster was named in a side with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo as part of four changes from the side that drew with Everton on New Year’s Eve.
Ilkay Gundogan was the fourth player brought in by Guardiola and Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, Jack Grealish, and Mahrez were the players to stand down.
But while Guardiola had been at pains to mention he had been picking players recently partly based on body language in training, he didn’t necessarily deploy them in their expected roles.
City deployed Nathan Ake at left back, Rodri as a midfielder-cum-central defender, and Cancelo as a right sided midfielder, with Foden marooned on the left side of midfield.
And they looked just as confused as the travelling fans must have been during a first half where Chelsea had the clearer chances and Carney Chukwuemeka hit the post but John Stones was imperious and helped keep City in the game in the first half and helped City earn a vital clean sheet for the visitors by the end.
Chelsea had to make two early changes due to injuries with former City man Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Chukwuemeka before the 22nd minute.
City soon returned to a more orthodox, for Pep Guardiola at least, line-up with rising star Rico Lewis coming on at half time alongside Manuel Akanji for Walker and Cancelo.
Nathan Ake jumped high to hit a header against the crossbar while De Bruyne had a shot saved by Kepa as City were much improved.
But Chelsea remained dangerous – Kai Havertz had a shot saved while Thiago Silva fired wide of the near post.
The shot count rose after Bernardo Silva wriggled past Marc Cucurella and cut the ball back to De Bruyne who fired wide.
Mahrez and Grealish joined the fray after the hour mark for Silva and Foden and they soon made a difference as City more closely resembled the side that Guardiola had been playing recently.
Ederson raced out of his area to make a clearance as the tension built.
And City soon had their goal after 63 minutes when both wide substitutes combined to break the deadlock.
Grealish crossed first time from the left after Kevin De Bruyne picked him out and gave Mahrez a tap-in from 3 yards out with Cucurella trailing in his wake and Kepa slow to react to a teasing ball into the six-yard box.
Injury-hit Chelsea made a triple change, digging deep into their squad as they hauled off first half substitute Aubameyang – who had been poor, Hakim Ziyech, and Cucurella for Omari Hutchinson, Connor Gallagher, and Lewis Hall.
De Bruyne’s cross was just too quick for Haaland to connect as City looked for a second while Gallagher put himself about to try and rouse his side.
Rodri was replaced by Kalvin Phillips after going down with cramp with four minutes to go – City’s final change – as they saw out the final minutes without incident despite a desperate late Chelsea surge.