Manchester City have taken an important step towards winning the Premier League title. Pep Guardiola’s team was too strong for Chelsea at home on Saturday afternoon with minimal difference, which sees the deficit on the leader rise to thirteen points: 56 to 43. A goal by Kevin De Bruyne was the deciding factor: 1-0. Liverpool are currently on 42 points, but also have two games less than the Citizens in the legs.
Chelsea failed to fire a shot at Ederson’s goal in the first 45 minutes. A first for Londoners in a Premier League game led by Tuchel and even the first since meeting Newcastle United in May 2018. Although Manchester City were the parent, Guardiola’s side struggled with the compact and reliable looking Chelsea defence.
What an opportunity for Jack Grealish?? He just can’t get him past the excellent Kepa Arrizabalaga ??#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #MCICHE pic.twitter.com/Qe3kXD1VB8
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) January 15, 2022
Manchester City’s best chance came a few minutes before half-time to Jack Grealish, after a mistake by Mateo Kovacic. Kepa Arrizabalaga prevented the rocker of the record purchase of the Citizens meant the 1-0. Chelsea could have hurt more in the counter, as a disgruntled Tuchel also saw. Both Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech lacked precision, who only participated in the last 24 minutes in the midweek competition match with Tottenham Hotspur (0-1 win).
Chelsea got off to a good start after the break and Ederson had to get into action quickly. Kovacic sent Lukaku away and the striker then lashed out with the left. Ederson saved for the first time and prevented the 0-1. In the entertaining second half, Guardiola’s and Tuchel’s teams kept each other well-balanced, although the home side was the main danger. A bet by Raheem Sterling went just wide and Kepa made a good save after a free kick by De Bruyne. Twenty minutes before the end, just after Ziyech was replaced by Callum Hudson-Odoi, the Belgian had more success.
oooh ??????????? ???? ???????????? ? No doubt, great strike and the 1-0 for Manchester City ??#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #MCICHE pic.twitter.com/ctICEcaOej
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) January 15, 2022
De Bruyne stayed upright after a duel with N’Golo Kanté for the ball and then shot the leather nicely into the bottom right corner behind Kepa: 1-0. It was already his fifth Premier League goal for the midfielder against his former employer. The direct hit was also decisive at the Etihad Stadium, although Phil Foden and Sterling could have secured a bigger victory with a little more precision in the final minutes. Liverpool, which can get eight points from Manchester City through the two make-up matches on their own, will play against Brentford on Sunday.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 22 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 56 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 43 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 42 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 37 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 35 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 33 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 31 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 20 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton W. | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | -2 | 25 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 21 | 5 | 9 | 7 | -1 | 24 |
| 12 | Southampton | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | -6 | 24 |
| 13 | Brentford | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | -6 | 23 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 19 | 7 | 1 | 11 | -5 | 22 |
| 15 | Everton | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -9 | 19 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | -16 | 19 |
| 17 | Watford | 18 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -14 | 13 |
| 18 | Burnley | 17 | 1 | 8 | 8 | -11 | 11 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 19 | 1 | 8 | 10 | -23 | 11 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 20 | 2 | 4 | 14 | -36 | 10 |