None of them can compete with us,they mock at us because we drew with them not knowing that our De Bruyne is back’: Man city Star Rodri sends strong premier league warning to Chelsea, arsenal and Liverpool after netting an equalizer against Chelsea yesterday
A late goal from midfielder Rodri earned Manchester City a point against Chelsea after their former player Raheem Sterling had given the visitors the lead. Whilst they avoided defeat the result is not a good one for City as they had to watch title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal both enjoy thumping wins earlier in the day. City are now two points behind the Gunners and four off Liverpool.
Manchester City’s winning streak in the Premier League came to an end tonight as they were held to a draw at the Etihad by Chelsea.
It took a deflected late goal from Rodri with seven minutes to go to salvage a point for the champions, who struggled to break down a Chelsea team who defended well and played adroitly on the break.
Both sides missed a number of clear chances in the match, with Erling Haaland uncharacteristically missing twice from close range.
Chelsea waited patiently for opportunities on the break throughout eventually capitalising on one just before half-time when Nicolas Jackson fed Raheem Sterling, who tucked a shot into the far corner.
Manchester City will now play their game in hand at home to Brentford on Tuesday, while Chelsea will face Liverpool in the EFL Cup Final on Sunday.
A stall rather than a wobble. With Liverpool hitting four at lunchtime before Arsenal registered five soon after, the onus was on the third title contender to reply with a win of their own.
In the end Rodri’s late strike rescued a point, with the champions losing ground on their rivals as they were held for the second time this season by Chelsea. With the volume of possession they had, and the chances carved out for their main man Haaland, it’s tempting to look at this as points lost.
There’s still a long way to go though and City can move into second place on Tuesday – one point above Arsenal, one behind Liverpool – if they can beat Brentford at home. The champions misfired today but they are adept at scoring late goals, turning no points into one and one into three. It’s a useful skill, and come May this could end up being viewed as a point gained.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – NICOLAS JACKSON (CHELSEA)
Being the lone striker away at Manchester City is one of the toughest assignments in the Premier League. It was assigned to Jackson tonight and he handled it superbly, with his clever movement and touch bringing others in to play and providing a dangerous threat on the break.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester City: Ederson 7; Walker 7, Akanji 6, Dias 6, Ake 6; Rodri 7, De Bruyne 7; Foden 6, Alvarez 6, Doku 7; Haaland 6
SUBS: Bernardo Silva 6,
Chelsea: Petrovic 6; Gusto 6, Disasi 8, Colwill 7, Chilwell 6; Caicedo 5, Fernandez 7, Gallagher 7; Palmer 7, Jackson 8, Sterling 7
SUBS: Chalobah 6, Casadei 6, Nkunku 5
Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
12’ BIG CHANCE! City release Alvarez through to the left byline. He hangs a cross to the six yard box where Haaland, rising alone, plants a free header over the bar. What a miss!
23’ HUGE CHANCE! Oh my word, Chelsea could regret this. A long ball puts Gusto clean through down the right, with no one near him in the City half. He squares it to Jackson, equally free in the middle. Jackson just about gets the ball out of his feet before his shot is smothered by Ederson, who gathers at the second attempt.
42’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 0 CHELSEA 1 (STERLING 42) They fired a warning shot, now they’ve scored! Brilliant interplay between Palmer and Jackson sends the latter streaking down the right and into City’s half. Jackson crosses to Sterling in the middle, who takes a touch, cuts inside Walker and curls a shot into the corner!
55′ GREAT SAVE! Ederson keeps City in it. Palmer nutmegs Alvarez and feeds Gusto on the right, who fizzes a low cross to the back post. Sterling connects first time, but his low shot is clawed away by Ederson and City scramble away the rebound.
78′ WHAT A MISS PART TWO! De Bruyne whips a beautiful cross in to the six yard box. Haaland walks onto it, unmarked, and sticks it over the bar again! Unbelievable.
83′ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1 (RODRI 83) CHELSEA 1 The dam bursts. With Chelsea pinned back and crosses raining in, a Walker volley is blocked by Disasi. It flies out to the edge where Rodri booms it back it goal, and his shot clips Chalobah and flies high into the net!
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