TheCable

Manchester City defeated Chelsea 3-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Cityzens scored three first half goals through Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne to put Frank Lampard’s Chelsea to the sword at their backyard.

City, who had their previous fixture against Everton called off due to a high number of COVID-19 cases at the club, had seven first team players isolating or on the bench, including Ederson Moraes, Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Fernandinho, Rhiyad Mahrez and Sergio Aguero, but rolled Chelsea over without breaking much sweat.

Chelsea had not won their first game of the calendar in the past four years and it became five against Man City who have now won their first game of the calendar in the past nine years.

The Blues started the match on the front foot and looked likelier to score until the 15th minute when the tide changed.

Pep Guardiola’s men took the lead on 18 minutes when Gundogan smashed a low shot into the corner and doubled the advantage three minutes later when Foden collected De Bruyne’s pass and finished off at the near post.

De Bruyne got the third goal on 31 minutes when he slotted in the rebound after Raheem Sterling’s shot came off the woodwork.

The home side finally got their consolation goal when two substitutes combined. Kai Havertz crossed the ball for Callum Hodson-Odoi to secure their only goal in added time.

Chelsea have picked up just four points from a possible 18 and dropped down to seventh on the EPL table while City move up to fourth with 29 points, level with Tottenham but with inferior goals difference.