Manchester City headed into the match with their Premier League season already wrapped up.
Arsenal lost to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which means that City were already champions before they faced Chelsea.
The Blues also have nothing left to play for in 2022/23. They are safe from relegation and cannot earn any European football.
As a result, it was hard to predict who would come out on top, with City now likely having one eye focused on their FA Cup and Champions League finals.
When all was said and done at the Etihad, Manchester City came away with the win.
Despite Manchester City leaving out the majority of their stars from the XI, they took just 12 minutes to open the scoring. Wesley Fofana gave the ball away, which allowed Cole Palmer to slip in Julian Alvarez who slotted past Kepa.
Julián Álvarez fires Man City ahead 🎯
Different City team, but it’s the same old story so far… 👏 pic.twitter.com/W9ONam0hpN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 21, 2023
The Blues did hit the post 35 minutes in after Conor Gallagher got on the end of a Lewis Hall cross.
In the end, though, Manchester City were able to hold onto their 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Neither side made any changes in the interval and it was a very slow start to the second 45 with the feel of a friendly.
City grew into the half and began to dominate a very lacklustre Chelsea once more. Kalvin Phillips nearly doubled City’s lead shortly before the hour mark but he hit the post.
Raheem Sterling then saw an effort cleared off the line but he was offside anyway. City scored a disallowed goal of their own 67 minutes in, which was ruled out due to a foul.
Alvarez thought he made it 2-0 to kill the game off four minutes later, but Riyad Mahrez handled the ball in the build-up so that too was ruled out. In the end it made no difference as City won the match 1-0.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Manchester City
- GK: Stefan Ortega (6.5)
- RB: Kyle Walker (6.5)
- CB: Aymeric Laporte (6.5)
- CB: Manuel Akanji (6.5)
- LB: Sergio Gomez (6.5)
- CDM: Rico Lewis (6)
- CDM: Kalvin Phillips (6.5)
- CAM: Cole Palmer (7.5)
- RW: Riyad Mahrez (6)
- ST: Julian Alvarez (7.5)
- LW: Phil Foden (6.5)
Substitutes
- John Stones (5)
- Erling Haaland (5)
- Kevin De Bruyne (5)
- Rodri (5)
Chelsea
- GK: Kepa Arizabalaga (6)
- RWB: Cesar Azpilicueta (5)
- CB: Wesley Fofana (4.5)
- CB: Thiago Silva (6.5)
- CB: Trevoh Chalobah (6)
- LWB: Lewis Hall (7)
- CM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (6)
- CM: Enzo Fernandez (6)
- RW: Conor Gallagher (6)
- LW: Raheem Sterling (6)
- ST: Hai Havertz (6)
Substitutes
- Noni Madueke (5)
- Mykhaylo Mudryk (5)
- Kalido Koulibaly (4)
- Carney Chukwuemeka (4)
- Christian Pulisic (N/A)
Match reaction
Never felt so numb in a season before… We conceded and so what? Tell me what’s new.
— Mod (@CFCMod_) May 21, 2023
Julian Alvarez goal, Cole Palmer assist…screams Mancity’s future
— Managing City (@Managing_City) May 21, 2023
Having Julian Alvarez – close to the best striker at the World Cup – as your back-up No9 underlines depth of City’s squad.
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) May 21, 2023
Man City deserved that, Chelsea deserved that. Weak start. https://t.co/Gb53gF0SXV
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) May 21, 2023
That was far too easy. Same old, same old. #CFC
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) May 21, 2023
Manchester city team B curving out Chelsea team A pic.twitter.com/h6Y03yCgvW
— fellow KE🇰🇪🍃🐐 (@mu__nga) May 21, 2023
Chelsea can’t even beat City’s C team😭 pic.twitter.com/MgQxqAx8W2
— mason 🏴 (@LFCMase) May 21, 2023
Arsenal to be offered chance to sign €30m-rated winger with 31 goal contributions
