City boss Pep Guardiola included all three of his new January signings in his squad for the visit of Chelsea, handing starts to Khusanov and Marmoush. Yet it was a nightmare debut for the former as the young defender gifted Chelsea the first goal of the match in the opening minutes. The Uzbekistan international made a mess of a clearing header and then didn’t get enough on a ball back to Ederson, allowing Nicolas Jackson to steal in and poke home.
Khusanov barely had time to recover before he found himself in the referee’s notebook for a late foul on Cole Palmer as the Chelsea star went on the attack and cruised past the £34 million man. Fortunately for the defender, City managed to level before the break. Matheus Nunes made a great run forwards and saw a shot on goal blocked, but Josko Gvardiol had followed his run upfield and gleefully gobbled up the rebound just before half-time.
It was then left to Haaland to complete the turnaround and finish off Chelsea in the second half. The striker put City ahead after running on to a fine ball by Ederson, with the Norwegian producing a brilliant finish to curl it over a stranded Robert Sanchez who had nonsensically come racing off his line. Haaland then turned provider by sending Phil Foden through to stroke a low finish past Sanchez and seal all three points for the hosts.
GOAL rates Manchester City’s players from the Etihad Stadium….