Defending champions Manchester City beat injury-hit Chelsea 1-0 on Thursday to shut the hole on Premier League leaders Arsenal to only 5 factors.
Pep Guardiola’s males had been properly beneath par within the first half however had been remodeled after the break, with substitutes Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez combining for the one aim, scored by the Algerian within the 63rd minute.
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Graham Potter’s Chelsea got here into recreation languishing in tenth place within the desk and had been anticipated to face a looking examination from second-placed City however that they had the higher of the primary half.
Chelsea, nonetheless, had been up in opposition to it from the opening minutes, with ahead Raheem Sterling pressured off after struggling an obvious hamstring harm, changed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Potter was additionally and not using a string of senior gamers together with Mason Mount, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante.
The recreation at Stamford Bridge was scrappy within the preliminary levels, with the guests dominating possession however creating little of word.
Manchester City have a good time an important three factors. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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Chelsea had been first to threaten, within the sixteenth minute, however City defender John Stones got here to the rescue as Christian Pulisic bore down on aim, producing a superbly timed sliding deal with to disclaim the US ahead.
The American was injured within the problem and was pressured off minutes later, compounding Chelsea’s issues.
Teenager Carney Chukwuemeka, who got here on for Pulisic, virtually made an instantaneous affect, however his shot was blocked and Hakim Ziyech’s effort was saved by City goalkeeper Ederson.
Erling Haaland, who has yet another Premier League aim this season — 21, than the complete Chelsea facet, smashed a shot broad within the thirty eighth minute.
But Chelsea continued to look the extra harmful facet and got here agonisingly near breaking the impasse when Chukwuemeka hit the put up within the forty fourth minute.
Raheem Sterling has pressured off after simply 5 minutes. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Guardiola made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji for Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker within the seek for extra management.
The guests instantly settled and commenced to dictate play, with Nathan Ake heading in opposition to the woodwork, however Chelsea responded properly and had been inches away from taking the lead when Thiago Silva flashed broad.
Guardiola introduced on Grealish and Mahrez on the hour mark to additional clean up his assault.
The choice paid dividends minutes later when Grealish produced a superb cross from the left and Mahrez prodded dwelling from shut vary.
Potter made adjustments of his personal, together with bringing on England ahead Conor Gallagher, however they had been unable to search out an equaliser regardless of some late strain.
The consequence leaves City 5 factors behind Arsenal, who dropped factors in a 0-0 draw in opposition to high-flying Newcastle earlier within the week.
Chelsea now have only one win of their previous eight league video games and stay 10 factors off the highest 4.
