LONDON: Manchester City, defending champion, beat on injury chelsea 1-0 on Thursday to close the gap premier league leaders Arsenal just five points.
Pep Guardiola’s men were well below par in the first half but were converted after the break, substitutes Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez combining for the only goal, scored by the Algerian in the 63rd minute.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea came into the game languishing 10th in the table and faced intense scrutiny from second-placed City, but they had the better of the first half.
Chelsea, however, were against him from the opening minutes, with striker Raheem Sterling sent off after suffering an apparent hamstring injury, replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Potter was also without a series of senior players, including Mason Mount, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante.
The match at Stamford Bridge was scrappy in the early stages, with the visitors dominating possession but creating little to mark.
Chelsea were the first to threaten, in the 16th minute, but City defender John Stones came to the rescue as Christian Pulisic charged on goal, producing a perfectly timed sliding tackle to deny the American striker.
The American was injured in the challenge and was sent off minutes later, compounding Chelsea’s problems.
Substitute Pulisic’s teenager Carney Chukwuemeka almost had an instant impact but his shot was blocked and Hakim Ziyech’s effort was saved by City goalkeeper Ederson.
Erling Haaland, who has one more goal in the Premier League this season – 21, than the entire Chelsea team, fired a wide shot in the 38th minute.
But Chelsea continued to look on the more dangerous side and came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock when Chukwuemeka hit the post in the 44th minute.
Guardiola made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji for Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker in search of more control.
The visitors immediately settled in and began dictating play, with Nathan Ake heading into the woodwork, but Chelsea responded well and were inches away from taking the lead when Thiago Silva flashed.
Guardiola brought in Grealish and Mahrez on the hour mark to freshen up his attack further.
The decision paid off minutes later when Grealish produced an excellent pass from the left and Mahrez slotted in from close range.
Potter made his own changes, including bringing in England striker Conor Gallagher, but they failed to equalize despite late pressure.
The result leaves City five points behind Arsenal, who lost points in a 0-0 draw against top-flight Newcastle earlier in the week.
Chelsea have just one win from their last eight league games and remain 10 points behind the top four.
Pep Guardiola’s men were well below par in the first half but were converted after the break, substitutes Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez combining for the only goal, scored by the Algerian in the 63rd minute.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea came into the game languishing 10th in the table and faced intense scrutiny from second-placed City, but they had the better of the first half.
Chelsea, however, were against him from the opening minutes, with striker Raheem Sterling sent off after suffering an apparent hamstring injury, replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Potter was also without a series of senior players, including Mason Mount, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante.
The match at Stamford Bridge was scrappy in the early stages, with the visitors dominating possession but creating little to mark.
Chelsea were the first to threaten, in the 16th minute, but City defender John Stones came to the rescue as Christian Pulisic charged on goal, producing a perfectly timed sliding tackle to deny the American striker.
The American was injured in the challenge and was sent off minutes later, compounding Chelsea’s problems.
Substitute Pulisic’s teenager Carney Chukwuemeka almost had an instant impact but his shot was blocked and Hakim Ziyech’s effort was saved by City goalkeeper Ederson.
Erling Haaland, who has one more goal in the Premier League this season – 21, than the entire Chelsea team, fired a wide shot in the 38th minute.
But Chelsea continued to look on the more dangerous side and came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock when Chukwuemeka hit the post in the 44th minute.
Guardiola made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji for Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker in search of more control.
The visitors immediately settled in and began dictating play, with Nathan Ake heading into the woodwork, but Chelsea responded well and were inches away from taking the lead when Thiago Silva flashed.
Guardiola brought in Grealish and Mahrez on the hour mark to freshen up his attack further.
The decision paid off minutes later when Grealish produced an excellent pass from the left and Mahrez slotted in from close range.
Potter made his own changes, including bringing in England striker Conor Gallagher, but they failed to equalize despite late pressure.
The result leaves City five points behind Arsenal, who lost points in a 0-0 draw against top-flight Newcastle earlier in the week.
Chelsea have just one win from their last eight league games and remain 10 points behind the top four.
