Manchester Metropolis moved again into the highest 4 of the Premier League with a powerful 3-1 win over Chelsea on the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s facet issued the right response to the demoralising Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain to come back from behind towards Chelsea due to targets from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Metropolis handed debuts to winter switch signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush from the beginning — and Khusanov endured a nightmare debut, gifting Chelsea the opening aim inside three minutes. The £33.6 million signing from RC Lens missed a bouncing ball after which noticed his weak header again to Éderson incepted by Nicola Jackson, who squared for Noni Madueke to faucet into an empty web.
Gvardiol had two good probabilities to equalise earlier than taking his third alternative simply earlier than halftime. Matheus Nunes latched onto Ilkay Gündogan‘s ball excessive and with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez speeding out to fulfill him, the ball fell into Gvardiol’s path to attain with a easy end.
Metropolis had been the higher crew within the second half and ultimately obtained a second aim by means of Erling Haaland. Ederson’s lengthy ball ahead was flicked on by the Norwegian, who chased it down and wrestled off Trevoh Chalobah. With Sanchez caught in no-man’s land, Haaland lifted his end over the Chelsea goalkeeper and into the online for his 18th league aim of the season.
Phil Foden wrapped up the consequence within the closing levels, accumulating Haaland’s intelligent move to run by means of from the midway line to attain his sixth aim in his final six video games.
Man Metropolis’s rise and Chelsea’s fall marks a shift in title race
Manchester Metropolis’s comeback win — staggeringly, solely their sixth victory in 20 video games throughout all competitions — was sufficient to place Guardiola’s facet again within the prime 4 and will sign a turning level in what has been a surprisingly dangerous season up to now.
With UEFA’s co-efficient system wanting prone to award a Champions League spot to fifth place, Metropolis are instantly proper again in rivalry having now gone unbeaten within the league for a month. Coming simply three days after their capitulation to Paris Saint-Germain, Metropolis’s league place will supply a level of consolation to Guardiola, significantly given he threw in two debutants right here and watched his crew fall behind.
Chelsea, against this, finish Saturday in sixth place — a exceptional fall from grace, which absolutely extinguishes any discuss of Enzo Maresca’s facet being a part of the title race.
They’ve now gained one sport in seven and their sport plan was undone in troubling trend. The excessive line of defense, which initially triggered Metropolis issues, ended up being badly uncovered as Madueke allowed Gvardiol to run in behind one too many occasions to equalise. Haaland and Foden later additionally beat Chelsea’s offside lure too simply to seek out the scoresheet.
In reality, the Blues’ response after falling behind was virtually non-existent — an perspective made all of the extra shocking given this consequence might characterize an essential swing within the race for Europe. — James Olley
Chelsea’s look ahead to an announcement win drags on
One curious quirk of Chelsea’s season is that they’ve taken extra factors on the highway (21) than at dwelling (19) — but they’re and not using a assertion away win below Maresca, who took over the membership this season.
They had been overwhelmed at Liverpool in October — considerably sadly — earlier than shedding at Newcastle within the EFL Cup and drawing at Manchester United. December’s 4-3 victory at Tottenham was arguably their most important success outdoors of Stamford Bridge given they got here from 2-0 down and so they had Metropolis on the again foot early on, seemingly able to capitalise on their present fragility.
And but the chance slipped by means of their grasp. They had been curiously passive after the opening half-an-hour or so, permitting Metropolis to get better their poise and switch the sport round.
One thing wants to alter quickly for Maresca. Chelsea’s subsequent 4 away video games are at Brighton twice — as soon as within the FA Cup fourth spherical — Aston Villa after which Arsenal. Their self-belief drained away to a troubling extent and extra resistance is required to make sure their season doesn’t unravel additional. — Olley
Tough begin for Man Metropolis’s January signing Khusanov
Man Metropolis’s comeback win could render it extra of a footnote, nevertheless it was a disastrous begin for Khusanov. Thrown straight into the centre of defence after simply three coaching classes along with his new teammates, the 20-year-old was in all places within the opening 5 minutes.
With solely his third contact, he bought Ederson quick with a routine header again and allowed Jackson to arrange Madueke. Instantly afterwards he misplaced a move into midfield and was booked for hacking down Cole Palmer as he tried to make amends.
There have been factors through the opening exchanges when it appeared like his teammates had been reluctant to provide him the ball. He ultimately settled himself down with a few easy passes — every of which had been enthusiastically cheered by the Metropolis followers in an try to make the teenager really feel higher.
Guardiola is not going to have needed to chuck Khusanov in on the deep finish after simply 18 months in Belarus and 31 appearances for RC Lens, however he’ll really feel that he had no selection. Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké are each injured and John Stones, who was on the bench however not absolutely match, is required towards Membership Brugge subsequent week within the Champions League, a contest Khusanov will not be eligible to play in.
Khusanov was ultimately changed by Stones after simply 53 minutes. He obtained a phrase of encouragement from Stones on his approach off and a hug and a pat on the again from Guardiola. — Rob Dawson
Marmoush appears poised to spice up Man Metropolis
The sport shall be remembered for Khusanov’s debut moderately than Marmoush’s, however the £63m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt appeared sharp.
He had a aim dominated out within the first half when Gundogan’s shot got here again off Sanchez. He ought to have left the end to Bernardo Silva, who was onside, however he cannot be criticised too closely for his desperation to attain. It was the identical within the second half when he opted to shoot as a substitute of sending Foden clear by means of and obtained an earful from the England midfielder.
Taking part in on the left of a entrance three might be not his favorite place, however he nonetheless did sufficient to point out that he can add one thing to this Metropolis crew. He was assured sufficient to tackle Reece James and was continually trying to stretch Chelsea’s defence with runs in behind.
With Haaland a sure starter and Kevin De Bruyne and Foden first-choice to play within the attacking midfield positions, it would take some time for Marmoush to seek out out the place he matches in. However on his debut he appeared fast, skilful and hungry for targets which may solely be excellent news for Guardiola.
After being substituted within the second-half, the cameras caught Marmoush chatting to Jack Grealish and carrying a giant smile. He actually loved himself greater than Khusanov. — Dawson
Stress mounts on goalkeeper Sanchez
Haaland took his successful aim brilliantly however the alternative was made far simpler by one other second of indecision from Sanchez in aim.
Though Haaland appeared like he had the beating of Chalobah as he chased his personal flick-on, the Norwegian striker was nonetheless a good distance from aim when Sanchez inexplicably determined to hurry off his line. Shortly realising he would by no means make up the bottom to Haaland, he checked again and left himself stranded off his goal-line as Metropolis’s No. 9 reduce on his left foot and lifted a wonderful end into the online.
It’s the second dangerous error in every week after a mistake towards Wolves and locations Sanchez below additional scrutiny, particularly within the context of Maresca’s pre-match feedback the place he mentioned the 27-year-old was “getting higher, however nonetheless far, far, removed from the place I need him to be.”
Maresca additionally refused to substantiate whether or not Sanchez can be his No. 1 subsequent season. With summer time signing Filip Jorgensen impressing within the Convention League, there’s now a rising debate about whether or not Sanchez ought to be in aim subsequent week. — Olley