‘What a player!’ Pep believes Lukaku has made Chelsea a ‘stronger’ team
Follow live coverage as Chelsea host Manchester City in a pivotal match in this season’s Premier League title race.
Thomas Tuchel is ignoring his rivalry with Pep Guardiola, after beating the Spaniard three straight times, including the iconic 1-0 victory in the Champions League final.
City will be keen to reestablish their dominance as they defend their title, having slipped off the pace further last weekend with the goalless draw with Southampton, but the Blues now have a newfound cutting edge in attack, following the acquisition of Romelu Lukaku. City sit three points behind the Blues, who are joint-top alongside Liverpool and Manchester United, with a fascinating title race in store.
The game is likely to fall into the category of a “six-pointer”, with Tuchel claiming the match is a 50-50 contest: “It is a six-pointer between two teams who are clearly rivals for the top four, but it’s too early (for the title race). The last three games, I see three 50-50 matches… Little details decide, small situations can give you an advantage, you need a little bit of luck. I expect another 50-50 match tomorrow. It does not take a miracle to win but we need our best performance… it will be one of the biggest tests in European football.” Follow live updates from Stamford Bridge below:
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
89 mins: An aerial ball comes up towards Havertz as he makes a run into the front edge of the box. Ederson comes flying out jumps into the Chelsea man and flaps the ball away. The two players collide and stay down forcing the medical team onto the pitch.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:19
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
86 mins: Raheem Sterling makes his 300th appearance for Manchester City as he replaces Jack Grealish for the closing minutes. Azpilicueta belts one long hoping to find Lukaku. Dias gets there first but fails to clear the ball properly. Rodri finishes the job and boots it out for a Chelsea throw in.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:16
SAVE! Mendy back in action!
83 mins: Thiago Silva is dispossessed by Gabriel Jesus who pokes the ball to Phil Foden. He slots it into the vacant area int the box as Jack Grealish runs into the gap. He’s just got the goalkeeper to beat and tries to knock it over Edouard Mendy but he charges down Grealish and stops the shot with his body. Great save!
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:12
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
80 mins: Riyad Mahrez replaces Kevin De Bruyne for Man City. 10 minutes to go at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea hunting for an equaliser and City trying to close out the game.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:09
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
77 mins: Huge chance! City could have sealed it as De Bruyne flicks a free kick to the back post. Laporte stays onside before meeting the pass on the volley and guiding it wide of the post!
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:07
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
74 mins: Chelsea need a goal and Tuchel calls on Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He replaces Jorginho for the Blues can he create something for the home side?
Azpilicueta crosses one into the box but City clear and look to fly forward with Bernardo. He’s cuaght on the ball by Alonso who is too heavy with his challenge and picks up a yellow card.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:05
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
71 mins: The ball comes up to Lukaku who holds it up well against Laporte before knocking into the path of Kovacic making a darting run in from the left. He drives into the box and shoot across goal only for Dias to get back and block the effort.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 14:00
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
68 mins: City break on the counter-attack with Grealish sweeping down the left side. He gets into the box and flicks across and dangerous pass that almost comes to Foden in the six-yard box. Chelsea clear and fly up the pitch. Alonso swings a cross into the middle of the box but there’s only Lukaku to target. Ederson is quickly off his line and he plucks the ball out of the air.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 13:58
Chelsea 0 – 1 Man City
65 mins: Yellow card for Laporte! Azpilicueta knocks the ball up to Lukaku who rolls off the shoulder of the City centre-back and is brought down. Good play from centre-forward and Chelsea win a free kick just outside the box.
Alonso is the man to take it but he whacks his shot straight into the wall.
Michael Jones25 September 2021 13:53
OFF THE LINE! Thiago rescues Chelsea
62 mins: Thomas Tuchel blinks first and looks to the bench. N’Golo Kante is replaced with Kai Havertz for the last 30 minutes or so.
Grealish is taken out in midfield but not before he sends the ball down the wing for Cancelo. The left-back carries it into the box on the break and curls it into the middle. Mendy dives down to tap the ball away from Foden but it rolls to Jesus who whacks it at goal only for Thiago Silva to boot it off the goalline!
Michael Jones25 September 2021 13:50