Haaland Leads Man City Revival To Beat Chelsea

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Manchester City rallied from 1-0 down to defeat Chelsea 3-1 to move into the top four of the Premier League on Saturday.

Abdukodir Khusanov’s debut came off a nightmare start, with City scoring Noni Madueke’s goal.

Before Haaland showed his combination of strength and skill in the 22nd minute, Josko Gvardiol levelled for Pep Guardiola’s men.

After only one of their previous nine games, the Norwegian then turned to Philadelphia’s in-demand Phil Foden for City’s fourth league win.

Chelsea will once more consider the necessity of upgrading goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after his positioning caused Haaland to score the crucial goal, which they have won just once in their previous seven Premier League games, falling to sixth.

City’s victory puts them back in pole position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, just days before they try to save themselves in this season’s competition.

On January 25, 2025, Manchester City’s English midfielder #47 Phil Foden celebrates scoring the team’s third goal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north-west England, under the guidance of Chelsea’s Argentinian midfielder #08. Enzo Fernandez reacts as Chelsea’s #08 Enzo Fernandez reacts. Manchester City won 3-1. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) /

After going from 2-0 up to lose 4-2 at Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, the English champions must defeat Club Brugge on Wednesday to advance to the playoffs.

Guardiola responded by making their debuts with Khusanov and Marmoush.

However, within three minutes, that choice dramatically reversed in Khusanov’s situation.

Nicolas Jackson pounced on Madueke for a tap in after the first Uzbek player to play in the Premier League did not properly connect with a header he had pushed backwards.

Khusanov was fortunate to escape the penalty for shoving down Cole Palmer moments later.

By contrast, Marmoush was showing why only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane had scored more Bundesliga goals than him this season prior to a £59 million ($72.6 million) move from Eintracht Frankfurt.

After Sanchez parried Ilkay Gundogan’s effort, the Egyptian thought he had equalized when he pounced home the rebound. Sanchez flagged offside.

Gvardiol’s marauding runs from left-back were causing City’s biggest threat.

After breaking into the box, Chelsea did not pay attention as he prodded inches wide with his left foot.

Gvardiol had a straightforward task for his fifth Premier League goal of the season just before half-time.

The ball fell for Gvardiol to roll into an empty net after Matheus Nunes made the change from full-back.

At the start of the second period, Guardiola and Khusanov had a one-on-one advantage. John Stones replaced him, and City were unfavorably criticized at the back.

After being picked out by an experienced player from the Norwegian, Marmoush blasted wide from Haaland’s pass to make it a perfect start to his City career.

Chelsea, once more, failed to take their lesson. Sanchez was forced out of his goal and ended up in no man’s land moments later when another Ederson clearance outmuscled him.

Haaland increased his season-high to 24 goals, six of which came in the last six games, despite City’s struggles, to maintain his reliability.