An inspired second half performance from Manchester City saw the Citizens earn a huge 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
After a lacklustre first half, **Pep Guardiola**’s side were a team reborn in the second.
Early on in that half, Nico O’Reilly opened the scoring, heading home a Rayan Cherki cross, before the Frenchman set up Marc Guehi to make it two with an impressive cultured finish. Jeremy Doku made it three soon after, finishing one-on-one past Robert Sanchez.
The Sky Blues are now six points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table with a game in hand - with a blockbuster clash against the Gunners coming up next weekend.
VAVEL have rated the City players’ performances at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7.5
Made an important save early on before producing an excellent piece of sweeping to stop Cole Palmer in the first half. Late on, he pulled out a top class stop to deny Marc Cucurella from close range.
Matheus Nunes - 7
Struggled a little to contain Pedro Neto in the first half but was much steadier in the second, like most of his teammates, showcasing the solidity and knowhow we have become accustomed to seeing of him this season.
Abdukodir Khusanov - 7.5
The Uzbek was solid enough in the early stages but by the time City were in full flow, he was imperious as usual. An important block to deny Joao Pedro stands as the highlight of his afternoon, although his long-range effort that flew just wide late on would’ve topped it off.
Marc Guehi - 8.5
Returning to the club whose academy he graduated from, Guehi was impenetrable, making a big block in the second half, after he had doubled the visitors’ lead with an extremely cultured finish for a centre-back.
Having to play a little wider to accommodate O’Reilly’s forward runs, the former Crystal Palace man was calm and composed on the ball in another assured defensive display.
Nico O’Reilly - 8
It’s rather telling, that City’s weakest spell in the match came when O’Reilly wasn’t really seeing the ball. The game changed and his team threatened more when he started to go forward more freely, linking up with Doku.
That goal to open the scoring opened the floodgates and got the Citizens on their way to a massive three points. They’ll be hoping his injury isn’t serious.
Surely this lad is a contender for PFA Player of the Year.
Rodri - 7
The Spaniard looked well off it to start the game and always seemed to be chasing shadows, having been overrun or making lax touches in the midfield. But as the game went on, he found his stride and helped his side dominate and control things.
Bernardo Silva - 7.5
As is often the case, Silva’s more memorable contributions this afternoon came in a defensive capacity, as he dropped deep to facilitate play. He is now joint-eighth in the club’s all-time appearance rankings with 451. Could the club captain leave in a blaze of glory?
Rayan Cherki - 8.5 (MOTM)
Unusually, the Frenchman was invisible in the first half, but his 31 second half minutes were something to behold. Cherki added two assists to his now double-digits Premier League assist tally, the first a perfect cross, and the second a Kevin de Bruyne or David Silva-esque incisive through ball for Guehi.
The audacity he had to flick the ball up for himself and send Antoine Semenyo in behind (and then to laugh about it) is just ridiculous and sums up what was a majestic display. He was a menace.
Antoine Semenyo - 7.5
Made little to no impact early on, but grew into things, looking after the ball well, while posing a threat with his direct drives inside, coming close at the end of the first half, before making nearly all the right decisions in a very threatening second 45.
The Ghana international will feel he could’ve and possibly should’ve got himself on the scoresheet.
Jeremy Doku - 8
By the end of the first half, the Belgian was responsible for most of City’s attacking threat but in terms of end product, fans were left wanting. In the second, he delivered, contributing to a fluid attacking display, capping off the win with a well-taken finish.
Erling Haaland - 6.5
While it’s now four league matches without a goal, Haaland can be fairly pleased with his performance. A couple of headers late on followed a squandered one-on-one chance, but his hold-up play was good again, and his occupation of the Chelsea defenders likely opened up paths for the likes of O’Reilly and Guehi.
Substitutes:
Rayan Ait-Nouri - 6.5
Some lovely bits of footwork down the left.
Phil Foden - 6
Pulled his weight defensively.
Savinho - 6
Rarely got involved.
Mateo Kovacic - 6
Bar one haphazard moment outside his own box, it was a largely bright cameo on his return to the side.