Chelsea vs Manchester City as it happened – David Luiz impresses as City's undefeated run ends
Re-live the action from Stamford
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea inflicted Manchester City‘s first defeat of the season in a compelling contest at Stamford Bridge.
Strikers were conspicuous by their absence, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and City’s Raheem Sterling deployed in the ‘false nine’ position, and the hosts absorbed repeated pressure from Pep Guardiola‘s men before earning a 2-0 win.
Infrequent goalscorer N’Golo Kante gave Chelsea the lead on the stroke of half-time, completing a devastating counter-attack by scoring with the Blues’ first shot of the game, and David Luiz headed in a second 12 minutes from time.
City had been unbeaten in 21 games, since April’s defeat in the Manchester derby, and now sit a point behind Liverpool. Chelsea are third, eight points behind Liverpool. Re-live the action below:
32 minutes
A delectable pass from Riyad Mahrez with the outside of his boot rolls perfectly into the path of Leroy Sane and the German is away. He puts Cesar Azpilicueta on the deck with his quick feet but Chelsea just about recover.
City reload and work the ball out to Raheem Sterling, who tiptoes his way along the byline and squares for Sane, who's shot is deflected over the bar.
33 minutes
Bernardo Silva flicks the corner on at the near post and Marcos Alonso knows nothing about it when it hits him and deflects vaguely goalwards.
The ball spins away from the far post and Chelsea look to counter, but Alonso can't quite connect with Willian on an ambitious diagonal.
Jorginho and David Silva battle in midfield. The former has struggled to influence the game so far.
36 minutes
David Luiz has taken a bang to the ribs or midriff and is in some pain.
His hair spreads around his grimacing face as two Chelsea medics poke and prod at him, with Andreas Christensen sent to warm up as David Luiz uncomfortably hoists himself up from the turf and trudges off.
38 minutes
Luiz will continue for the time being at least and rejoins proceedings.
40 minutes
Chelsea have now settled a little more as some of the pace has gone from Manchester City's game.
Five minutes left in the half.
43 minutes
When Chelsea are in possession, Manchester City's structure becomes more of a 4-1-5, with the front three dropping in alongside the two Silvas.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City (N'Golo Kante, 44 minutes)
What a finish!
Pedro lifts a lovely pass to Willian down the left, but the Brazilian can't find a teammate.
Chelsea regather and Eden Hazard lays it into N'Golo Kante's path charging from midfield.
Kante places the ball firmly to the right of Ederson, beating the goalkeeper's outstretched palms and flying into the top of the net. A superb strike, and Chelsea have the unlikeliest of leads just before half time.
45 + 1 minutes
Into two added minutes at Stamford Bridge, where the crowd has really been lifted by that goal.
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