A stunning strike from Kevin de Bruyne sealed a 1-0 victory for Manchester City over champions Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession throughout the game at Stamford Bridge but it took a powerful effort from De Bruyne in the 67th minute to see the visitors take all three points.
Chelsea offered little in terms of a reply, with in-form striker Alvaro Morata substituted with an injury during the first half, and remain in fourth with 12 points.
Man City head back to the top of the Premier League table on goal difference after the win, just ahead of local rivals Manchester United, with both sides level on 19 points.
Chelsea could have taken an early lead when N’Golo Kante’s right-wing delivery was just glanced over the crossbar by the rising Morata with less than three minutes on the clock.
Both sides could have scored just before the half an hour mark. Cesar Azpilicueta’s low drive was collected well by Ederson before Man City went on the break. Raheem Sterling whipped an inviting cross into the box from the right flank, but David Silva could not poke it home at the back post.
Chelsea were forced into a substitution in the 35th minute as Morata appeared to be suffering from a tight hamstring, and was replaced by Willian. But it was City who could have snatched a late first-half goal as De Bruyne delivered a corner, which was powered towards goal by Fernandinho but his header was superbly pushed away by Thibaut Courtois.
After the break, Chelsea could have broken the deadlock with an hour on the clock as Cesc Fabregas picked out Eden Hazard on the left with a short free-kick. The Belgian then strode towards goal but his cross-cum-shot was well saved by Ederson at the near post.
Five minutes later and Man City went ahead in some style as De Bruyne thundered home. He started the move himself, playing a fast-paced give-and-go with Jesus before powering home a volley from the top of the box, leaving national team-mate Courtois with no chance of keeping it out.
Jesus could have doubled City’s lead with five minutes of the game to play, but was thwarted by some superb defending from Antonio Rudiger. Sterling’s chipped pass picked out the striker on the left of the box, but his effort – which had flown past Courtois – was headed away from the goalmouth by the Chelsea defender to deny the visitors a larger winning scoreline.
