Phil Foden finished off a flowing City move to make it 2-0 – three minutes after Ilkay Gundogan had broken the deadlockManchester City produced a ruthless attacking display to cruise past Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and increase the pressure on manager Frank Lampard.
The visitors, who were without a number of first-team players following an outbreak of coronavirus at the club, stunned Chelsea with three goals in 16 first-half minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan’s crisp low finish broke the deadlock and Phil Foden doubled City’s lead three minutes later, tucking a superb first-time strike beyond Edouard Mendy after fine work from Kevin de Bruyne.
De Bruyne deservedly got his name on the scoresheet with a close-range finish after Raheem Sterling’s curling strike had rebounded off the woodwork.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored in second-half stoppage time for Chelsea, firing Kai Havertz’s cross beyond Premier League debutant Zack Steffen.
The result lifted City up to fifth in the table, four points off Liverpool and Manchester United with a game in hand on both.
Chelsea, who would have gone top had they beaten Everton on 12 December, drop to eighth.
Chelsea can expect ‘pain behind the scenes and on the pitch’After another loss, how much pressure is Lampard under?Football Daily podcast: Forlorn Frank, Leicester in the shadows and hating the transfer windowDepleted City show ruthless streak This was City’s first game in eight days following the Covid-enforced postponement of their league match with Everton on 28 December.
They were given the go-ahead to reopen their training ground this week but were without Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia and Tommy Doyle against Chelsea.
Benjamin Mendy, who breached coronavirus regulations by hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner party, was one of only eight City substitutes.
After a period of early Chelsea pressure, the visitors soon stamped their authority on the game and raced into a comfortable lead with two superbly taken goals.
Gundogan finished low into the far corner after turning Thiago Silva on the edge of the area, before Foden produced a magnificent finish from De Bruyne’s pass.
De Bruyne, operating in a ‘false nine’ role, made it 3-0 before Gundogan nearly added a fourth with a deft flick from Foden’s low ball.
The chances continued to flow in the second half as Rodri’s firm header forced Mendy into an excellent one-handed save over the bar.
At the other end, City keeper Steffen was barely troubled until Hudson-Odoi’s late consolation.
No side have conceded fewer Premier League goals this season than City’s 13, but this scintillating display proves Pep Guardiola’s side have not lost any of their attacking prowess.
Plenty to ponder for Chelsea and LampardLampard admitted his side were going through a “tough spell” after being frustrated by Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Former striker Chris Sutton called Chelsea a “crisis club” following the 1-1 draw against Dean Smith’s side, and they have now collected only four points from six matches.
Based on this performance, that barren spell seems unlikely to end any time soon.
Chelsea made a lively start but looked bereft of confidence once Gundogan had opened the scoring.
Time and again, the hosts were sloppy in possession and could have lost by more as City unleashed wave upon wave of attacks.
Hudson-Odoi’s second league goal of the season added a modicum of respectability to the scoreline, but it did little to mask the problems facing Lampard going into two big away games – at local rivals Fulham and third-placed Leicester City.
Man City on the march – the statsChelsea have suffered as many defeats in their past six league games (W1 D1 L4) as they did in the previous 23 (W14 D5 L4).Since their 2-0 defeat by Tottenham in November, Manchester City have won five of their seven league matches (D2), with only Manchester United (20) picking up more points than City’s 17.City’s Kevin de Bruyne has scored in four different Premier League games against Chelsea since leaving the club. His tally of four goals is the most against the Blues by a former player.Ilkay Gundogan has opened the scoring in three of City’s past four league games, netting more times than he did all last season (2 goals in 31 apps).Chelsea’s Timo Werner has not scored in 12 matches in all competitions, the third longest goalless run of his top-flight career – 23 in 2014 and 25 in 2014-15, both as a Stuttgart player.’They punished us’ – what the managers saidChelsea boss Frank Lampard told BBC Sport: “We made mistakes, individual mistakes, and didn’t get close enough. They punished us.
“If you want to reach the top level which City have been for a few years now, you have to accept the pressures.
“The second half we competed but at 3-0 the game was pretty much done. I am not trying to talk up the last 20 minutes of the game because at 3-0 the vitals of the game have changed, but I was still looking for a reaction.
“I am not putting ourselves down. Today was painful in the first half in football terms because their level of play showed where we need to aspire to be. In the second half I saw a reaction, but the work needs to be done.”
Chelsea far from where we want to be – Frank LampardManchester City boss Pep Guardiola told BBC Sport: “We played really well. It’s unfortunate about the last goal but the result at Stamford Bridge is fantastic. Today we were back like we were two or three seasons ago. An important win at Chelsea away.
“The Premier League is weird for everything [this season]. We just have to be focused during the games but otherwise relax. Hopefully in the Premier League in the last six, seven games we can be there fighting.”
Pep Guardiola delighted by ‘fantastic’ Man City resultWhat’s next?Chelsea host Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup on 10 January (13:30 GMT) before travelling to Fulham in the Premier League on 15 January. (20:00).
City face rivals Manchester United in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday (19:45) before welcoming Birmingham to Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup on Sunday (13:30).
Player of the match
De BruyneKevin De Bruyne
with an average of 7.92
ChelseaSquad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi
Squad number23Player nameGilmour
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number15Player nameZouma
Squad number7Player nameKanté
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number17Player nameKovacic
Squad number22Player nameZiyech
Squad number11Player nameWerner
Manchester CitySquad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number11Player nameZinchenko
Squad number10Player nameAgüero
Squad number13Player nameSteffen
Squad number25Player nameFernandinho
Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Line-upsChelseaFormation 4-3-3
16Mendy
28Azpilicueta15Zouma6Thiago Silva21Chilwell
17Kovacic7Kanté19Mount
22Ziyech11Werner10Pulisic
16Mendy28Azpilicueta15Zouma6Thiago Silva21Chilwell17KovacicBooked at 71minsSubstituted forHavertzat 77’minutes7KantéBooked at 53minsSubstituted forGilmourat 64’minutes19Mount22ZiyechSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 64’minutes11Werner10PulisicBooked at 45minsSubstitutes1Arrizabalaga2Rüdiger5Jorginho9Abraham18Giroud20Hudson-Odoi23Gilmour29Havertz33EmersonMan CityFormation 4-3-3
13Steffen
27Cancelo5Stones3Rúben Dias11Zinchenko
20Bernardo Silva16Rodri8Gündogan
7Sterling17De Bruyne47Foden
13Steffen27Cancelo5Stones3Rúben Dias11Zinchenko20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 90mins16Rodri8GündoganSubstituted forFernandinhoat 75’minutes7Sterling17De BruyneSubstituted forAgüeroat 86’minutes47FodenSubstituted forMahrezat 86’minutesSubstitutes10Agüero22Mendy25Fernandinho26Mahrez33Carson48Delap78Harwood-Bellis79MbeteLive TextMatch ends, Chelsea 1, Manchester City 3.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Manchester City 3.
Goal! Chelsea 1, Manchester City 3. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kai Havertz.
Foul by Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Rúben Dias.
Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Phil Foden.
Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Agüero replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Attempt blocked. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mason Mount.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by John Stones.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.
Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Thiago Silva (Chelsea).
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi with a cross.
Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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