Manchester Metropolis elevated their lead on the high of the Premier League desk to 13 factors as Kevin De Bruyne’s strike earned the defending champions a 1-0 win over second-placed Chelsea.
Metropolis dominated possession within the first half however Jack Grealish was denied a gap purpose when Kepa Arrizabalaga blocked his shot with an outstretched leg. Romelu Lukaku went shut after the break however noticed a curling effort saved by Ederson.
The hosts took the lead within the seventieth minute when De Bruyne curled in a wonderful strike previous Kepa from exterior of the field,
Chelsea continued to battle to create possibilities, regardless of the introduction of Mason Mount and Timo Werner from the bench, and the defeat is a major blow for his or her hopes of difficult for the title.
Listed below are 5 issues we realized.
Metropolis closing in on Premier League
This was a efficiency from Manchester Metropolis which made clear why they’re operating away with the Premier League title this season.
Metropolis had been utterly dominant right here, with their press smothering Chelsea, they usually made the European champions look common.
De Bruyne’s purpose was a shocking approach to wrap up three factors and the Belgian midfielder was awarded man of the match. The truth that Metropolis are already thus far clear, with De Bruyne solely hitting peak kind over the past couple of weeks, exhibits simply how good they’ve been elsewhere.
In extending their lead on the high of the desk to 13 factors, that is victory that certainly sees Pep Guardiola’s aspect place one hand on the Premier League title.
Chelsea tame in possession
This was one other curious efficiency from Chelsea. The match right here performed out similarly to the return fixture in September, with Manchester Metropolis having full management of the possession. Chelsea regarded to create turnovers in midfield, with Kovacic and Kante pushing excessive once they sensed alternatives, however then had been completely satisfied to drop deep as soon as Metropolis established their attacking form.
That defensive work from Kovacic and Kante led to Chelsea stepping into a few of promising positions early on – with Lukaku selecting the incorrect choice when he tried to slide in Ziyech, and Ziyech overhitting a move into Lukaku when he had area to run into. However Chelsea had been so sloppy in possession – albeit within the face of a ferocious Metropolis press – that they did not have a shot on the right track within the first half of a Premier League recreation for the primary time below Tuchel.
Lukaku struggles
As soon as once more, we come away from a Chelsea match with Romelu Lukaku being the dominant problem. Metropolis’s management left the striker remoted for a lot of the match and Lukaku struggled to steer the road – however there are inquiries to be requested of Tuchel too.
Whereas it’s honest to focus on that Lukaku was under his finest, it didn’t assist that aside from when Chelsea gained the ball in midfield, lots of their passes did not advance them up the pitch they usually turned to enjoying lengthy and direct to the Belgian.
Lukaku didn’t obtain a lot assist from Ziyech or Pulisic when he did have his again to purpose, however his deployment as a ‘goal man’ is unlikely to make Lukaku really feel any happier about his state of affairs at Chelsea.
As we noticed repeatedly on the Euros and for Inter Milan final season, Lukaku carries way more menace when he is ready to flip and run into open area, significantly down the edges of the opposition.
Chelsea did this as soon as – once more after Kovacic gained a ball within the ultimate third – with Lukaku seeing his effort on purpose telegraphed by Ederson after being slipped by means of.
Sterling again on kind
Lining up alongside Phil Foden and Jack Grealish in an all-English entrance three, it was Raheem Sterling who was by far Metropolis’s most threatening ahead.
This was as sharp a efficiency as Sterling has produced for his membership this season and the 27-year-old trying on it from the opening levels.
He gave Marcos Alonso a torrid afternoon at instances and his motion and dribbling on the suitable channel was incisive, direct and harmful.
Foden carried out effectively in a false 9 function that’s turning into his personal, even when he was maybe the quietest of Metropolis’s forwards. Grealish noticed extra possession, and had Metropolis’s finest probability of the primary half, however this was one other troublesome afternoon for the membership’s document signing.
Kovacic Chelsea’s stand out
This was a poor afternoon for Chelsea however Mateo Kovacic got here away from the Etihad as maybe the one Blues participant to have had an efficient afternoon.
His function as a high-pressing ball-winner in Chelsea’s midfield was the supply of most of their promising conditions within the first half and the Croatia worldwide was in a position to disrupt Rodri and Bernardo’s passing at instances along with his power and tackling.
Kovacic was badly missed throughout Chelsea’s poor run of kind in December and his efficiency right here was a reminder to how vital he was earlier within the season.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
