Chelsea 2, Manchester City 1
Manchester City relinquished the Premier League title to Liverpool without the Merseysiders having to kick a ball after they were beaten at Chelsea on a sultry night in London.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity’s hosts deserved their win after carving out the clearer chances against a lacklustre City side with Christian Pulisic and Willian scoring either side of a superb Kevin De Bruyne free kick.
Things could have been different had Raheem Sterling hit the target instead of the woodwork after City caught Chelsea napping with the scores level.
But City were made to pay again for their lack of clinical finishing and soft underbelly, going down to an eighth Premier League defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge.
Before the game Pep Guardiola claimed that he was treating Sunday’s FA Cup game against Newcastle United as a ‘final’ and hinted he might field a weaker team.
City made a number of changes, some of which were enforced, with Sergio Aguero, Joao Cancelo, and Phil Foden absent with injury while David Silva, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Nicolas Otamendi dropped to the bench.
Aguero may be out for the rest of the season after surgery on his left knee in Barcelona following an injury sustained on Monday against Burnley.
In came Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, and Raheem Sterling as City’s starting line up retained a strong look.
Youngsters Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, and Cole Palmer were promoted to the bench.
Pulisic and Ross Barkley were introduced to a Chelsea side led by Frank Lampard and looking to make a statement.
Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek stepped down to the bench while Jorginho was included on the bench after a two game suspension.
The game at Stamford Bridge summed up City’s season this term – capitalising on possession but creating few clear chances before defensive frailties cost them.
Poor defending on the break has been the hallmark of Manchester City’s title defence this season and they conceded a first half goal to Christian Pulisic from their own attacking free kick.
Slack defending by Mendy and Gundogan after City’s own free kick allowed the American to race clear and bend the ball past Ederson to open the scoring for the home side.
It was the sixth individual error this season to cost City a goal and Chelsea, who are intent on being title challengers next season, lay down a marker.
City looked tired in the London heat after their third game in eight days but improved after the break to level the scores through a splendid Kevin De Bruyne free kick from 25 yards out after Riyad Mahrez had been fouled.
The Belgian became the first player to get into double figures in the Premier League for goals (10) and assists (16) this term with his 11th goal in all competitions for City.
And City could have taken the lead but hit the post through Raheem Sterling while Chelsea saw an effort cleared off the line by Kyle Walker while Mason Mount could only hit the side netting after a Ederson inexplicably gave him the ball as both sides went for the winner.
But it was Chelsea who came out on top after Fernandinho was forced to handle a late goalbound shot on the line as City were once again caught on the break.
The Brazilian was sent off after a cursory VAR check, with Willian sending Ederson the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The win lifted Chelsea five points clear of Manchester United in fifth in the race for Champions League qualification with seven games to go.
GOALS – Chelsea 2, Manchester City 1
Chelsea 1, Man City 0: 36. Christian Pulisic broke free with the ball after a poor touch by Benjamin Mendy following a City free kick, curling it past Ederson after racing upfield unchallenged.
Chelsea 1, Man City 1: 55. Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick beat Kepa Arrizabalaga from 25 yards out, dipping sumptuously after rising over the wall to beat the keeper.
Chelsea 2, Man City 1: 78. Willian’s spot kick sent Ederson the wrong way and put Chelsea into the lead after Fernandinho’s deliberate handball on the line saw the City player sent off.
MATCH STATS – Chelsea 2, Manchester City 1
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta (C), Christiansen, Rudiger, Alonso, Barkley (Kovacic 73), Kante, Mount (Pedro 90+1), Willian, Giroud (Abraham 62), Pulisic (Gilmour 90+1)
Chelsea Subs not used: Caballero, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Zouma, James
Booking: Alonso 38 (foul on Mahrez)
Goals: Pulisic 36; Willian pen 78
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho (C), Laporte (Otamendi 73), Mendy (Zinchenko 59), Gundogan, Rodri (Gabriel Jesus 55), De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Bernardo Silva (David Silva 55)
Manchester City Subs not used: Carson, Sane, Doyle, Harwood-Bellis, Palmer
Booking: De Bruyne 76 (foul)
Red Card: Fernandinho 77 (deliberate handball preventing goalscoring chance)
Goal: De Bruyne 55
Referee: Stuart Attwell