Mahrez winner helps Manchester City cut down gap to league leaders Arsenal

Manchester City bagged a crucial three points against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night to cut down the gap to Arsenal at the top of the table. Riyad Mahrez’s 63rd-minute winner secured a 1-0 victory for the defending champions against an injury-filled Chelsea side that have now lost four of their last six Premier League matches.

Manchester City headed to London on the back of just one victory in their last three Premier League games, and Pep Guardiola’s side were on the back foot in the opening stages against the under-pressure home side. Chelsea’s injuries issues persisted, with Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic forced to come off in the opening period, but the Blues still troubled the City backline. John Stones made one vital tackle to deny Christian Pulisic from having a shot on goal, and the American’s replacement, Carney Chukwuemeka also sparkled after coming on.

Making just his fifth Premier League appearance for Chelsea, the 19-year-old struck the post in the closing stages of the half after cutting inside and shooting with his right foot. City’s talismanic striker Erling Haaland was anonymous for large parts of the first half, but the Norwegian showcased glimpses of his threat before the break, blazing his shot inches above the bar after being played through by Ilkay Gundogan.

Eager for more control of the proceedings, Pep Guardiola made two changes at the break, with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo coming off for Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis. The substitutions worked in favour of the visitors as City dominated the possession and started to create openings with more frequency. Nathan Ake struck the crossbar with a header from a Kevin de Bruyne cross, while the Belgian almost scored against his former club, forcing Kepa into a fine low save.

Guardiola made two more changes at the hour mark, bringing on Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish, and it took just three minutes for the substitute pair to combine and break the deadlock. Collecting the ball from de Bruyne, Jack Grealish played an inviting cross across the face of the goal for the onrushing Riyad Mahrez, who made no mistake with his finish to put Manchester City 1-0 in front.

Graham Potter brought on Chelsea youngsters Omari Hutchinson, Lewis Hall, and Conor Gallagher while chasing the game in the final moments, but the Blues struggled to create any meaningful opportunities and slumped to their sixth league defeat of the season.

Graham Potter’s side now lie in tenth place on the table, ten points off Manchester United in the Champions League spots. City, meanwhile, capitalized on Arsenal’s dropped points against Newcastle United earlier this week and cut the Gunners’ lead at the top of the table to five points.