City vs Chelsea: Haaland misses chances; Sterling and Palmer shine against former club
In an enthralling Premier League game, Manchester City and Chelsea battled to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring just before halftime, only for Rodri to equalize late in the game. The result leaves City four points behind league leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Chelsea sits in tenth place with 35 points.
City missed technicians
City’s main issue in the game was a lack of players who could move the ball around in tight areas. With John Stones on the bench, Manuel Akanji filled in the midfield alongside Rodri. However, Akanji was not as fluid as Stones, causing a delay in their gameplay. Additionally, with Bernardo Silva carrying an injury, City missed another technician in the next line. Julian Alvarez had to drop deeper to try and establish their passing game, but it wasn’t his strong suit either. Against Chelsea’s committed pressing, City struggled to move the ball effectively.
Sterling and Palmer shine for Chelsea again
Raheem Sterling continued his impressive form against his former club, tormenting Kyle Walker during his 64 minutes on the pitch. Sterling’s decision to cut inside onto his right foot caught Walker off guard and opened up an angle for him to beat Ederson. Another standout performer for Chelsea was Cole Palmer, who looked unfazed returning to the stadium where he learned his craft. Palmer’s perfectly timed passes carved open City’s defense and could have resulted in more goals for Chelsea.
Haaland misses out
After Erling Haaland’s impressive brace against Everton last weekend, expectations were high for him to deliver again. However, Haaland struggled to find the back of the net in this game, missing several chances. While he is a master goalscorer, his lack of contribution outside the box becomes more noticeable when the goals dry up. City needed Haaland to make up for his lack of involvement in the build-up play, but he was inaccurate throughout the game.
Pochettino gets tactics spot-on
Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical approach was a pragmatic triumph for Chelsea. They didn’t stand off City or smother them; instead, they set clever traps in the middle of the pitch and generated turnovers to ignite dangerous transition attacks. Conor Gallagher tirelessly harried Rodri, while Moises Caicedo showed impressive restraint after picking up a yellow card. Enzo Fernandez exemplified Chelsea’s grit and determination with his pressing. Pochettino’s tactics laid the foundation for their front three to cause City problems.
Conclusion
The draw between Manchester City and Chelsea showcased the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. City missed key technicians in their midfield, leading to a lack of fluidity in their gameplay. Meanwhile, Sterling and Palmer shone for Chelsea, with Sterling continuing his impressive form against his former club. Haaland struggled to find his scoring touch, missing several chances throughout the game. Pochettino’s tactical approach proved successful for Chelsea, as they managed to nullify City’s threat and create opportunities of their own. Both teams will now look ahead to their upcoming fixtures in the Premier League and Carabao Cup final.