Man City vs Chelsea LIVE: Result and reaction as resurgent City clinch important win
Man City 3-1 Chelsea: A horror debut for Abdukodir Khusanov gave the Blues a 1-0 lead but City deservedly hit back through Gvardiol, Haaland and Foden
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden spared the blushes of new team-mate Abdukodir Khusanov as Manchester City came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1.
Khusanov, the £33.6m Uzbekistan defender signed from Lens this week, made a nightmare start in the Premier League with an error that led to a Chelsea goal and a booking inside the opening four minutes.
Noni Madueke took full advantage of the mistake to put the visitors ahead at the Etihad Stadium but Josko Gvardiol equalised and the tried-and-trusted figures of Haaland and Foden settled the contest in the second half.
The win lifted City back above Chelsea into the top four and raised spirits after their midweek capitulation at Paris St Germain.
Relive everything in our live blog below:
Enzo Maresca looks at silver linings from defeat
"The game started very well for us,” Maresca told Sky Sports.
“We scored the first one and could have scored the second goal two or three times. The game would have completely changed. We missed.
"The team was there but in the last minutes we conceded for 1-1. The second goal changed the game. Robert is the first one [to admit] he knows he has to do better. Working hard every day [is the way to improve]. We try to have conversations with all of them.
"We are making progress. We are better than one or two months ago. These moments will make us better."
![](https://static.the-independent.com/2025/01/25/20/29/GettyImages-2195905449.jpg)
Guardiola reflects on much-needed boost following 'tough' season
"We struggled lately and it has been a tough, tough season,” Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day.
“Most players have been here eight or nine years and I am not going to change my opinion in two months. We have to realise it is not enough what we are doing. I ask them to step up and we did it. We created enough chances to score goals and in the end I am really pleased for the victory.
"Of course we need fresh legs with Omar and Khusanov and now we have a final Champions League game on Wednesday."
![](https://static.the-independent.com/2025/01/25/19/46/GettyImages-2195899137.jpg)
Pep Guardiola comes to defence of Khusanov after nightmare debut
Guardiola told Sky Sports: "He doesn't speak English so I didn't speak to him. He'll be fine.
“He only made one or two training sessions. I didn't want to push John (Stones) returning from injury - with Wednesday's game (against Club Brugge).
"The players were together. That was massively important. Any player can make a mistake. The fans always support the new players. He's so young. He will learn.”
![Khusanov gifted Chelsea the lead two minutes into his Man City debut](https://static.the-independent.com/2025/01/25/19/06/SEI237330754.jpeg)
Haaland hails Omar Marmoush following lively debut
"I think I have seen him in Bundesliga and watched him,” he told BBC Match of the Day. “It is going to be fantastic playing with him.
“You can see has something special. I am looking forward to playing with him and it is going to be a really good time."
![](https://static.the-independent.com/2025/01/25/19/40/GettyImages-2195907814.jpeg)
Haaland reveals link with Ederson comes from the training ground
"It is something we practice,” he told BBC Match of the Day.
“We try to focus on giving space and then Ederson gave me a lot of assists already. It is about perfect timing because he is so precise."
Ederson reaches new assisting milestone against Chelsea
No goalkeeper has provided more assists in Premier League history than Ederson.
He moves level with Paul Robinson on five after setting up Erling Haaland’s goal this evening.
![](https://static.the-independent.com/2025/01/25/19/32/GettyImages-2195907295.jpg)
Erling Haaland gives post-match thoughts
"I think it was overall a great performance even though we started horrific,” Haaland told BBC Match of the Day. “It was a fantastic team performance and I am really happy.
"When we had the start like we did it is difficult but we played really well and we kept on going and kept on going. We kept pushing and second half was the same. In the end it is what we need to do. We need to lock it in the back and keep going attacking-wise.
"It is that early that it is almost like you start with -1 goal. This can happen but it is about keeping going. It is about that and trying to have piece of mind in your head. That's what matters."
![Erling Haaland was on target as Manchester City came from behind (Martin Rickett/PA)](https://static.the-independent.com/2025/01/25/19/6992e0dbfa25719bf5b6516337b07ea4Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3OTE5OTMx-2.78793772.jpg)
How things stands in the Premier League table
Manchester City move back into the Champions League places with tonight’s comeback win over Chelsea.
They leapfrog Chelsea who fall down to sixth, having themselves started today in fourth place.
The reigning champions remain 12 points off league leaders Liverpool.
Gary Neville hails Man City's powers of recovery
“That’ll really help City,” Neville said on Sky Sports’ commentary of the game.
“After what happened in Paris and going a goal down tonight, it could have been a brutal game - but they recovered. Palmer couldn’t get into the game.
“City deserved it. Chelsea didn’t do anywhere near enough.”
Resurgent Man City come from behind to defeat Chelsea
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