Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League standings has been reduced to a point after playing to a thrillling 4-4 draw against Chelsea on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Chelsea 4-4 Manchester City
Date: 12 November 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Man City made five changes following their win over Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League, as Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku were restored into the line-up.
The Blues had Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer starting against their former side, with Nicolas Jackson leading the front line after his hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur.
After a measured start from the sides, Erling Haaland eventually broke the deadlock for the Citizens on 25 minutes from the penalty spot after he fouled in the box by Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea responded four minutes later after Thiago Silva flicked a header towards the back of the net from a cross by Conor Gallagher.
As the game opened up, Sterling restored the lead for Mauricio Pochettino's charges against his old club eight minutes before the break with a finish at the back post after a cross by Reece James.
After knocking on the door, Akanji eventually levelled matters for the visitors on the stroke of half-time with a header in the box from a cross by Bernardo Silva.
City had a perfect start in the second stanza as Haaland gave them a 3-2 lead and got his brace with a sweeping finish at the back post after a teasing square ball by Alvarez.
Pochettino injected some pace in their attack on 64 minutes as Mykhailo Mudryk replaced Enzo Fernandez in a tactical switch.
The Blues eventually levelled matters three minutes later as Jackson pounced on a rebound in the box and fired home a low strike after goalkeeper Ederson parried a long-range shot by Gallagher.
With the game on the edge, Pep Guardiola made a tactical change ten minutes before time, as midfielder Mateo Kovacic replaced attacker Alvarez.
The Citizens eventually went ahead in the last four minutes after Rodri's shot on the edge of the box took a deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
There was still time for drama, as Palmer snatched the equaliser for the Blues in added time from the penalty spot after Ruben Dias brought down Armando Broja, who had just come on, in the box.
City's lead at the top of the table was cut down to a point, with Liverpool and Arsenal, tied on 27 points, trailing them by that point.
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