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Manchester city ruled out a series of coronavirus-related absences to overcome Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and reaffirm their challenge for the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola’s men had scored more than twice in a league game just once since their first game of the season, but were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.
The victory puts City four points behind Liverpool and Manchester United at the top of the table, but with a game in hand in both to come.
Chelsea were expected to fight for the title after a 220 million ($ 300 million) spending spree in the transfer market, but a one-win streak in six games has left them in eighth place, seven points out of the box. pace after having played one more game than the leaders.
Roman Abramovich has fired many Chelsea coaches in the past for similar stints in form and pressure on Frank Lampard to show that he can mold a talented team of individuals into a team capable of competing to the standards recently set by Liverpool and City. seasons.
City were left without Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ferran Torres and Gabriel Jesus due to a coronavirus outbreak that caused their meeting in Everton to be postponed on Monday.
Visitors were unable to fill their bench due to a depleted squad, but Benjamin Mendy was named a substitute despite City launching an investigation into his breach of coronavirus restrictions by hosting a New Year’s Eve party.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen made his Premier League debut but was barely tested despite Lampard being able to start the 150 million trio Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech together in attack for the first time.
It took City 10 minutes to get to their feet in an unknown formation with De Bruyne, the most advanced striker between Foden and Raheem Sterling.
But once Guardiola’s men found their rhythm, they cut Chelsea with an ease that will worry Lampard.
De Bruyne snuffed out City’s first big chance when he fired wide from Joao Cancelo’s excellent pass.
Gundogan opened the floodgates at 18 minutes when he turned just outside the box and found the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, Foden doubled City’s lead with a fine shot near the post from a De Bruyne cross.
Guardiola had only won once in five previous visits to Stamford Bridge as manager of Barcelona and City, but his team was sailing in 35 minutes.
Chelsea’s 10 outfield players were trapped in front of the ball when De Bruyne released Sterling into goal from inside his own half and after the England international hit the post, De Bruyne was the first to react. and score the rebound.
The scoring could have been a lot more embarrassing for the Blues if City had been more ruthless in the last hour.
Foden threw a header when he was unmarked at the back post before Gundogan threw another glorious opportunity before the break.
City continued to keep the hosts chasing shadows in the second half when Edouard Mendy overturned Rodrigo’s header, while De Bruyne fired wide from the edge of the area.
It is at the other end of the field that City had held up a title challenge as they waited for their forwards to find their way, but simply failed to post a ninth clean sheet in 11 games when Callum Hudson-Odoi slipped into the back post to claim. a consolation from Chelsea in injury time.
