• Abdukodir Khusanov had a debut to forget
  • Pep Guardiola tweaked Man City's tactics
  • Chelsea haven't beaten the Sky Blues since the 2021 Champions League final

Manchester City leapfrogged Chelsea in the Premier League table, clambering into the division's top four thanks to a 3-1 victory over the Blues on Saturday afternoon.

Noni Madueke fired the visitors in front three minutes after kick-off but Chelsea never capitalised upon that advantage. City equalised on the cusp of the interval and scored twice without reply in the second half, with Erling Haaland nabbing the go-ahead goal before teeing up Phil Foden in an inspired display.

However, it was largely an error-strewn affair at the Etihad Stadium which explained why both sides are battling for Champions League qualification rather than the Premier League title.

How the game unfolded

"For sure, they will be back soon," Enzo Maresca said of Manchester City ahead of kick-off. "I don't have any doubt." The defending champions had emphatically not rediscovered their imperious edge soon enough to stop Chelsea from taking the lead after three minutes.

The Blues pounced upon two frenzied moments of indecision from debutant Abdukodir Khusanov. After jumping under a high ball, the £42m recruit from Lens scuffed a headed back-pass which Nicolas Jackson gobbled up and squared for Madueke to give Chelsea an early lead.

The hosts belatedly recovered their composure, creating a glut of chances throughout a first half which also offered Chelsea some scoring opportunities. Most of City's threat was channelled through the buccaneering figure of Josko Gvardiol. After being denied on two occasions, the powerful full-back eventually found the back of the net.

Matheus Nunes' burst in behind was picked out by a ball over the top from Ilkay Gundogan. Caught unaware by an uncharacteristically direct approach, Marc Cucurella failed to hold off his Portuguese counterpart, who crashed into a hesitant Robert Sanchez, sending the ball squirming into Gvardiol's grateful stride.

City maintained their commitment to bypassing Chelsea's press following the interval. Moments after Haaland teed up Omar Marmoush for a wayward effort after a long punt forward from Ederson, the Norwegian goal-gobbler took the burden on himself.

Cleverly pinning Trevoh Chalobah, Haaland span onto a 70-yard drive and clipped the ball over Sanchez who was stranded in No Man's Land.

An air of nervous energy gripped the Etihad Stadium as memories of City's frequent failings remain fresh. Phil Foden's coolly converted third goal quashed those doubts. After another long pass forward, which Kevin De Bruyne flicked on, Haaland set his teammate away for a game-sealing strike.

City's victory lifts them above the Blues and Newcastle United into the top four, trailing third-placed Nottingham Forest by just three points. Chelsea, by contrast, have slipped down to sixth place and are only above a royally in-form Bournemouth side by virtue of scoring more goals this season.