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Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City: A Turning Point?

By J.C. Gonzalez

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City is challenged by Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on January 03, 2021 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City is challenged by Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on January 03, 2021 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City were excellent despite Coronavirus-related absences as they hammered Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City may have just picked up their biggest result of the season. City have now won three straight league games, but today, they managed it against a Big Six rival away from home even with first-team players unavailable.

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Chelsea provided some early pressure before a stunning turn and finish on the edge of the area by İlkay Gündoğan continued a hot run of form from the German. City were absolutely ruthless for the rest of the first half, creating chances regularly as Kevin De Bruyne assisted Phil Foden then grabbed one for himself in the center-forward role.

The performance was great and the result puts the Citizens just four points off the league summit with a game in hand on leaders Liverpool and Manchester United. Chelsea have been in horrific form in recent weeks, but City took full advantage against Frank Lampard’s side despite difficult circumstances surrounding the club at the moment. Chelsea did manage a late consolation in stoppage time, but it ultimately made little difference other than denying the continuation of City’s impressive clean sheet record this year.

Next. Player Ratings: Manchester City comfortably beat Chelsea. dark

This looks to be a pivotal moment in City’s season, as they may have just passed the test and truly earned their way back into the title conversation. It has still been far from the top-notch City teams of years’ past, but perhaps today showed a glimpse of what this side is still capable of in the first match of 2021. If City can keep up this type of play, more good things will surely follow. This is the team’s biggest and best result of the season, and could be a moment fans look back on fondly as the turning point of 2020/21.