Chelsea’s frustrating run of form continued into the New Year which they started in the worst possible way after being on the end of a hammering from Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
The game finished 3-1 in favour of the away side, and if anything, the scoreline flattered the Blues.
Gundogan, Foden and De Bruyne all scored in a first-half goal fest for Pep Guardiola’s side who bossed the ball in the first half and scored their three goals at a canter.
Chelsea had more of the ball in the second half but failed to create any chances of note, apart from a late consolation goal from the substitute Hudson-Odoi.
The Teams
Chelsea (4-3-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta (c), Zouma, Thiago Silva, Chilwell; Kovacic (Havertz 77’), Kante (Gilmour 64’), Mount; Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi 64’), Werner, Pulisic
Scorer: Hudson-Odoi 90+2’
Booked: Pulisic 46’, Kante 53’, Kovacic 71′
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Steffen; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko; Rodrigo, Gundogan (Fernandinho 75′); De Bruyne (c) (Aguero 86′), Foden (Mahrez 86′), Sterling; Silva
Scorers: Gundogan 18’, Foden 21’, De Bruyne 34’
Booked: Silva 90’
The Game
Chelsea were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the City box within 4 minutes of the first half after goalkeeper Steffen, who was making his Premier League debut picked up a back pass from an under-pressure Rodri. Ziyech’s strike went behind for a corner and nothing came of it.
Werner was brought down in the box from behind by Rodri, in what seemed appeared to be a penalty only for the referee and VAR to think otherwise.
Following the penalty shout, City established complete dominance and were ruthless with their finishing.
Foden laid the ball off for Gundogan who turned and struck the ball sweetly into the bottom corner past Mendy.
De Bruyne then crossed for Foden to finish at the near post to double the lead for the visitors.
In a bid to stage a comeback, Frank Lampard’s side pushed bodies forward in an attempt to score from a free-kick taken by Ziyech. City cleared, and Kante, the last player in defence, gave the ball away cheaply, and Sterling was through on goal, wriggled and turned in the box and just when looked like the chance was gone, De Bruyne arrived and finished against his old side from six yards.
In the second half, the home team had much more of the ball with City happy to sit back and protect their three-goal advantage.
However, Lampard’s men failed to really create anything of note apart from Hudson-Odoi’s late effort and the match was summed up by the fact that Chelsea did not look to put debutant Steffan under any pressure.
Next up for Chelsea is the visit of Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.