And next season ...dark blue, that is
down that flank, though, in one of City’s more sloppy performances.
At least Aguero’s temporary ineptitude gave Sterling a lift.
And if one of England’s finest footballers needs a tonic, it was Sterling.
These are testing times for a player who, until recently, was seen as indispensable to club and country.
Now, he faces a battle to force his way into the XI that will start the Champions League Final on May 29.
If Guardiola has all his attacking options available, Sterling will probably have to settle for a place on the bench. And there are plenty of observers who believe that should be his berth while on international duty.
But England manager Gareth Southgate has faith in Sterling, and there was plenty of evidence here to support that faith.
His goal, his first in 13 matches, came courtesy of Aguero somehow failing to control Gabriel Jesus’s wonderfully unselfish pass.
But Sterling caused enough problems to suggest his struggle for form has been exaggerated a little. The goals and assists will return, and he looked to have drawn a penalty out of Kurt Zouma – only for Taylor to wave play on.
That prompted Pep’s tantrums, which were in full flow even before Timo Werner set up Alonso for the winner.
Guardiola might have had a point about Taylor’s decision, but maybe he was just as frustrated with Chelsea having City’s measure at the moment.
City will wrap up the title one way or another.
But as they head to Istanbul, or wherever the big one is held, the advantage – however slight – appears to lie with Tuchel.