Manchester City produced a sterling second-half performance to blow away Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge and increase the tension in the Premier League title battle.
Goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi, and Jeremy Doku ensured that Pep Guardiola’s men sit just six points behind the Gunners with a game in hand.
City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad next Sunday in what many are billing as a potential title decider.
Kieran Gill was on hand in west London to bring you Chelsea’s player ratings, with Jack Gaughan running the rule over the City crew.
Manchester City brushed Chelsea aside witha 3-0 win to continue their title charge
Chelsea
Robert Sanchez – 5
Can’t blame Sanchez for Nico O’Reilly’s headed opener. That was more to do with a dereliction of duties from Chelsea’s outfielders. Could have done better with Marc Guehi’s strike. Was helpless when Jeremy Doku scored Manchester City’s third.
Malo Gusto – 5
Watch back the corner from which City scored their second of the afternoon and you will see Gusto was originally marking Guehi, who was eventually left all on his own to make it 2-0.
Wesley Fofana – 5
By half-time, Erling Haaland had managed the fewest touches out of every player on the pitch – just 10 in total – but others stepped up for City in the second half while their striker was being tied down by Fofana and Co.
Jorrel Hato – 6
The 20-year-old, primarily a left back, performed admirably as a centre back and particularly in the first half before Chelsea imploded. This loss should not be pinned on Hato.
Jorrel Hato was the best of Chelsea’s defenders on a miserable day for their backline
Marc Cucurella – 5
Scored what would have been Chelsea’s opener but saw it disallowed for a tight offside. That chance was one of several times Cucurella tried to break in behind while inverting from left back to the very front of the forward line.
Moises Caicedo – 4
Chelsea were 2-0 down when Sanchez rolled the ball to Caicedo, who gave up possession cheaply for Doku to add in City’s third of the afternoon. The only good news for Chelsea is Caicedo avoided his 10th booking of the season in this 32nd match round so no two-game ban will follow.
Andrey Santos – 4.5
With Enzo Fernandez suspended, Santos stepped in, but he was the one who was supposed to be marking O’Reilly when he headed in to give City their decisive lead. A big moment and mistake.
Estevao Willian – 4
Defence-wise, he did not even stick out a leg to try to stop Rayan Cherki’s cross for O’Reilly’s headed opener. Attack-wise, he was hardly involved at all. He showed his frustrations, too, winning a booking for booting away the ball after being flagged offside.
Estevao Willian was hardly involved going forward and offered little on the defence
Cole Palmer – 4.5
Chelsea have been overdue a peak Palmer performance. They did not get it here against his former club. Closest he came was striking into the side-netting on an angle. Looked powerless, and could not hide his sulking as City scored again, and again, and again.
Pedro Neto – 6
Chelsea’s best source of creativity throughout the first half. But the hosts at Stamford Bridge hardly left their own half when they emerged after the break, which meant Neto was hardly seen again.
Joao Pedro – 4.5
One lovely run led to him setting up Cucurella to score, though the offside flag curtailed Chelsea’s celebrations. Struggled to get involved in this game otherwise.
Cole Palmer looked powerless against his former club when they needed a peak performance
SUBSTITUTES
Alejandro Garnacho (for Estevao 67) – 5.5
Came on at 2-0 down, and saw it become 3-0 within seconds. Thankless situation for Garnacho to walk into.
Romeo Lavia (for Santos 67) – 6
Still trying to build up his fitness, and the closing stages of this ‘contest’ felt like a pre-season friendly for Chelsea.
Liam Delap (for Joao Pedro 81) – N/A
Dario Essugo (for Caicedo 81) – N/A
Manager: Liam Rosenior – 4.5
The first half was fine. Chelsea could even have taken the lead. Then it all turned ugly in the second half. Pep Guardiola had his number. No Premier League clean sheet since January 17, which is alarming.
Manchester City player ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 8
Decent stop when Chelsea were on top for a spell and the Italian completed some very valuable punches from set plays.
Matheus Nunes – 7
Did a decent job of pinning back Neto in that one-on-one battle. Needed to keep his wits about him.
Abdukodir Khusanov – 7
A few uncharacteristically shaky moments but calmed down and eventually back to his normal self as City dominated.
Marc Guehi – 8.5
Super strike for the second and defensively solid – especially when reading the game in front of him.
Marc Guehi chipped in with a super strike and an all-round solid defensive performance
Nico O’Reilly – 8.5
So important for this team. Easily the best performer as City floundered early on and then popped up with the header.
Bernardo Silva – 7.5
Barely noticeable and yet so crucial to those around him. Everywhere but you wouldn’t know it, making City tick.
Rodri – 7
Not really at it in a way he has been over recent weeks when the game was goalless. Simplified his game to give City a far sturdier base.
Antoine Semenyo – 7.5
Played with real purpose on the right. Nightmare to mark, Cucurella requiring help to fend him off.
Rayan Cherki – 9
A genius. Completely different player after half time. Had been poor until then but ran proceedings later, assisting O’Reilly and Guehi.
Rayan Cherki is a genius and provided two assists here to help catapult his team into the lead
Jeremy Doku – 8
Such tenacity to rob Caicedo and score the third of the day. Could actually have been utilised more than he was.
Erling Haaland – 7
Occupied two central defenders to create a free man elsewhere. Few sniffs of goal but looked a little frustrated with his lot.
SUBSTITUTES
Rayan Ait-Nouri (for O’Reilly, 64) – 6.5
Phil Foden (for Cherki, 76)
Savinho (for Doku, 76)
Mateo Kovacic (for Silva, 81)
Manager: Pep Guardiola – 8.5
Whatever was said at half time worked a treat and proves again how good this guy is. City were a different team altogether in the second half.
