Phil Foden hit a personal goalscoring best as Manchester City turned the tide to sink Chelsea 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola's new-look Man City side included January signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush, but the former endured nothing short of a nightmarish start, as his error gifted Noni Madueke the opening goal with just three minutes on the clock.
The reigning champions' response was a positive one, though, and Josko Gvardiol got the goal his endeavour deserved shortly before the break, but any endeavour Chelsea showed in the opening 20 minutes quickly evaporated.
As Enzo Maresca's men cut rather meek figures, their hosts huffed and puffed in search of the all-important second goal, which arrived through the boot of Erling Haaland after a record-equalling Ederson assist.
It was then Haaland's turn to showcase his playmaking abilities, laying off Foden for the England international to score in four straight Premier League matches for the first time in his career.
Thanks to Saturday's success, the Citizens have leapfrogged Chelsea into fourth place in the Premier League table, while Maresca's men slip below the champions and Newcastle United into sixth spot, 13 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Fair to say, we learned a lot about both sets of players tonight, but the outcome was largely reflective of the game.
After such an explosive start and early advantage - albeit one gifted to them on a silver platter - Chelsea almost seemed scared to try to attack their hosts more, happily engaging in time-wasting tactics well before the half-time whistle blew.
Such a strategy could have gone one of two ways, and it backfired heavily on Maresca, whose players were undone by Man City's route-one approach to the domineering Haaland and produced little of note in the final third during the second period - the less said about Robert Sanchez the better too.
It is surely too little, too late for Guardiola's side to mount the most astonishing title comeback, but the Champions League remains a realistic target, and Maresca's admission that Chelsea are not contenders for glory is ringing ever more true by the week.
Things can only get better for the young Khusanov, whose nerves seemingly got the best of him as he was thrown into the deep end, but the Uzbekistan international being given a standing ovation as he was substituted was a heart-warming touch.
At the other end of the field, Marmoush may not have got his debut day goal, but he came agonisingly close and was a menace throughout; could an effective partnership with Haaland be blossoming?
MAN CITY VS. CHELSEA HIGHLIGHTS
Noni Madueke goal vs. Man City (3rd min, Man City 0-1 Chelsea)
Noni Madueke pounces on Abdukodir Khusanov's error and Chelsea take the lead inside three minutes! 🫨 pic.twitter.com/xqg0b6tea5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2025
Disaster for Khusanov, delight for Madueke! Man City's embryonic new defender misses one header then completely fluffs another, as he tries to play the ball back to Ederson but makes an awful connection.
Nicolas Jackson pounces on his mistake in a flash to tee up Madueke, whose finish is slightly awkward, but the Chelsea winger only had to find the target with the goal gaping as he prods the visitors ahead.
Josko Gvardiol goal vs. Chelsea (42nd min, Man City 1-1 Chelsea)
Joško Gvardiol fires into an empty net to pull Manchester City level! 💥 pic.twitter.com/LeY5IKzCQC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2025
It had been coming - for both City and Gvardiol! The Croatian wasted one gilt-edged chance a couple of moments ago, but he makes no mistake on this occasion.
Ilkay Gundogan's stunning ball over the top finds the run of Matheus Nunes, who has a clear run at goal but is thwarted by a combination of Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella.
However, the ball ricochets out to Gvardiol, who had carried on his run into the box and has the simple task of tapping home into an empty net.
Erling Haaland goal vs. Chelsea (68th min, Man City 2-1 Chelsea)
Erling Haaland catches Robert Sanchez off off his line and fires it in! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/IkucihpVmd
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2025
A tale of two goalkeepers! After nearly seeing one direct ball to Haaland nearly result in a goal, Ederson sees no need to change tack and picks out the Norwegian from inside his own area once again.
The Norwegian comfortably shrugs off a desperate Trevoh Chalobah while a hesitating Robert Sanchez is in no man's land, and the Chelsea number one cannot get back into his goal quickly enough as Haaland lifts in the hosts' second out of Sanchez's reach.
What on earth Sanchez was doing is anybody's guess, but that was some ball from Ederson and a devastating finish from Haaland!
Phil Foden goal vs. Chelsea (87th min, Man City 3-1 Chelsea)
No mistakes from Phil Foden 😤 pic.twitter.com/prYUHJbjYo
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2025
Haaland goes from scorer to provider, and the three points are in the bag for the Sky Blues!
First, Kevin De Bruyne wins an aerial duel to knock the ball onto Haaland, who engages in a tight tussle with Levi Colwill but holds him off and plays an exquisite flick to the charging Foden.
The England international bursts through a gap in the exposed Chelsea defence, whose efforts to sprint back are futile as Foden runs 30 yards before coolly slotting home into the bottom corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOSKO GVARDIOL
© Imago
An honourable mention for Haaland's goal and assist, but if there was any Man City player who deserved a goal in that first half, it was marauding left-back Gvardiol.
The Croatian's finish was simple enough, but he was an effervescent attacking force all evening long - completing 100% of his dribbles from five attempts - while having three shots in total as he provided a positive spark that inspired the hosts' fightback.
MAN CITY VS. CHELSEA MATCH STATS
Possession: Man City 57%-43% Chelsea
Shots: Man City 15-10 Chelsea
Shots on target: Man City 6-4 Chelsea
Corners: Man City 2-4 Chelsea
Fouls: Man City 6-8 Chelsea
BEST STATS
Joško Gvardiol has scored 9 PL goals since he moved to Man City.
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc)
The most by any defender. pic.twitter.com/6nFxvvnMUM5 - Ederson now has five assists in the Premier League, the joint-most by a goalkeeper in the competition's history along with Paul Robinson. Hoof. #MCICHE pic.twitter.com/eTLWle6gbn
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 25, 2025
Phil Foden's last four Premier League games:
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 25, 2025
⚽️ vs. West Ham
⚽️⚽️ vs. Brentford
⚽️🅰️⚽️ vs. Ipswich
⚽️ vs. Chelsea
Directly involved in SEVEN goals. 🏴⚽️ pic.twitter.com/75ZTTqlgvS
WHAT NEXT?
Their Premier League title hopes still hanging by the thinnest of threads despite Saturday's strong showing, Man City could also suffer a premature exit from the Champions League when they host Club Brugge in Wednesday's crucial league phase finale.
As Chelsea's continental matters in the Conference League are also done and dusted for the time being, the Blues have a welcome eight-day break before hosting London rivals West Ham United on February 3.
Ben Knapton
