Pep has to sort out his back pains as title goes
Solid performance. May make more sense to keep him back for corners given his pace. Excellent clearance off the line.
Lack of pace was exposed by Pulisic in the scramble in the second half and was then sent off for handball.
Decent performance where he carried out his duties well and could not be deemed culpable for the costly errors.
Error in judgement to gift Pulisic the ball compounded by diving in for the opening goal. An unforgivable error.
Subdued display. Never really seemed to dominate. It was no surprise to see him one of the first taken off.
One of the better performers, despite the mix-up for the goal. Authoritative and effective at both ends of the pitch.
He’s just so good. Hadn’t done much until his unstoppable free-kick beyond Kepa to level the game.
False nine is not his preferred role and it showed. City looked much more threatening once Jesus had come on.
Has become the go-to ball for Ederson and his touch was a glorious as ever. Was sharp to tee-up Bernardo and Sterling.
Struggled to affect things. Unlucky to hit the post after haring onto a Mahrez through-ball.
SUBSTITUTES
JESUS: (Bernardo, 55) Gave City more of a threat in attack but couldn’t test Kepa. 6
SILVA: (Rodri, 55) His presence seemed to spur Sterling on and some line-splitting passes. 6 ZINCHENKO: (Mendy. 59) Brought on to help attack but ended up having to defend. 6 OTAMENDI: (Laporte, 73) Little impact. 6 NOT USED: Carson, Sane, Doyle, Harwood-Bellis, Palmer
HOW fitting that City should finally give up their Premier League title through rotten defending.
The Blues had been intent on making Liverpool wait for at least another week, possibly two, by taking three points at Chelsea.
It was only ever going to be a case of delaying the inevitable as long as possible.
But when Benjamin Mendy gifted a goal to Christian Pulisic, it was an appropriate epitaph to a season in which the Blues have been brilliant at times, but always capable of acts of deep self-harm.
Kevin de Bruyne’s brilliance dragged them back into it with a stunning free-kick.
But City’s defensive woes were evident, and led directly to a red card for Fernandinho for handball, with Willian tucking away the resulting penalty with 13 minutes to go.
The failure to replace Vincent Kompany, to stop
John Stones’ backward slide, and to recognise Nicolas Otamendi’s expired sell-buy date, has been key to the inability to stay with Liverpool’s searing pace.
It goes back to Otamendi and Stones faffing around at Norwich, while the Argentina international then hurled himself at Raul Jimenez to hand Wolves victory at the Etihad.
Bernardo Silva’s rash challenge began the rot at home to United, and then Mendy’s casual shielding gave Wolves a comeback win at Molineux.
It didn’t end there – Aleks Zinchenko’s needless red card at Spurs, the lack of closing down on Jonjo Shelvey at Newcastle and Ederson’s meltdown at Old Trafford.
Liverpool have not played better football than City this season – the fact they have scored six goals more illustrates that.
But with the colossus of Virgil Van Dijk – who City pursued and could not afford – at the heart of a strong defence, the Merseysiders proved to be the better all-round unit.
City should give Liverpool a guard of honour when they trot out onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium next week. Jurgen Klopp’s team deserve it, no question.
But City need to regroup and think again before they go to Newcastle and seek to progress in the FA Cup on Sunday.
And they need to sharpen focus at the back if they are not to toss away the hard-earned 2-1 lead they hold Real Madrid in the Champions League.
It looked to be business as usual from the start as City, wearing that totally tropical change strip, luxuriated in the balmy summer conditions at Stamford Bridge.
They caressed the ball around, seeking
CHELSEA:
CITY:
CHELSEA: CITY:
CHELSEA: CITY:
CHELSEA: CITY:
@ManCityMEN
CHELSEA: CITY: SENT OFF:
JUNE 28 N’CASTLE (A) FA CUP 6.30PM
ManCityMEN
the openings, and with Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling flitting in and out of different positions as they lined up without a striker with Sergio Aguero in Spain after his knee surgery and Gabriel Jesus carrying a knock.
But Frank Lampard’s side kept it together, and while the Blues’ only real chance was a glancing Fernandinho header from a free-kick, which Kepa tipped over the bar, Chelsea were a threat on the counter.
The goal was no great surprise, as Fernandinho and Gundogan had both been forced into blocks to stop a direct, incisive Chelsea team.
But the Blues slipped up again as they penned the Londoners into their final third and won a corner.
Gundogan had the situation under control as Chelsea cleared, but Mendy ignored his shout and roamed across to knock the ball into space, where Pulisic pounced.