The Premier League champions were far from their best at Stamford Bridge but nicked a 1-0 win thanks to a ‘brain-fart’ from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
In the end, we got the result we expected: a Manchester City victory.
However, this was far from a comfortable night for the Premier League champions – even with nearly everything going in their favour.
Chelsea lost two players to injury before the midway point in the first half, saw Carney Chukwuemeka hit the post shortly after, and their clean sheet was only sullied when Kepa Arrizabalaga made a toe-curling error early in the second half.
Jack Grealish inspired the breakthrough, sliding a ball to the back post for fellow substitute Riyad Mahrez to slide home after the hosts’ goalkeeper bizarrely opted against claiming it.
Even with their numbers dwindled by injury, a disjointed Chelsea kept plugging away to the last and 18-year-old Lewis Hall was provided with a good chance to level things at the death, only to see his effort fly over the bar.
A substandard City thus held on, closing the gap on leaders Arsenal in the process. For Chelsea, it was a familiar story.
They’ve now lost four of their last eight Premier League games and with the injuries piling up, it could get worse before it gets better for Graham Potter’s side.
Below, GOAL runs through the winners and losers from Thursday night’s showdown at Stamford Bridge…
