Noni Madueke (for Sterling, 69’) – 7. Added a real threat in the final 10 minutes for the visitors. Sadly, his smart crosses were squandered on this occasion. Reuters; Kalidou Koulibaly (for Hall, 81’) – N/A. Had a chance to score in added time but his header sailed well wide of Ortega’s post; Carney Chukwuemeka (for Loftus-Cheek, 81’) – N/A. The youngster came on for the final few minutes, having been held back from playing at the Under-20 FIFA World Cup earlier this week; Christian Pulisic (for Havertz, 85’) – N/A. Little of note to report.
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega – 7. Pulled off a couple of excellent saves in the first half to maintain City’s lead. While the stand-in stopper’s distribution was sometimes wayward, he looked sharp between the sticks.
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Kyle Walker – 6. Not at his very best, having made a handful of uncharacteristic mistakes. He was the only man to play the full 90 minutes both in this game and against Real Madrid in the week, so some fatigue is understandable. Reuters
Aymeric Laporte – 7. Led the line well in the absence of Ruben Dias, making several vital blocks and interceptions throughout the game. The defender also contributed to build-up play in possession. PA
Manuel Akanji – 7. Solid after being brought back into the heart of the City backline. The Swiss international was replaced by John Stones in the second half. AP
Sergio Gomez – 7. The left-back has barely played this season for Pep Guardiola but looked good in the inverted wing-back position. Promising signs. AP
Rico Lewis – 6. Started the game in midfield for the hosts, but often found himself inter-changing positions with Gomez. Looked tidy in possession and worked hard to recover the ball whenever it was lost. AP
Kalvin Phillips – 7. Was inches away from grabbing his first Man City goal after hitting the post with a nicely directed header. The England man finished the game strongly after a bit of a slow start. Getty
Phil Foden – 8. A classy display from the 22-year-old, who looked a real threat whenever he got on the ball in the final third. Not quite as potent in front of goal, but a silky display all-round. AP
Cole Palmer – 7. Arguably the most impressive of City’s squad players who started, having assisted Alvarez’s opener. The young forward’s agility and close ball control caused plenty of issues for the Chelsea defence. EPA
Julian Alvarez – 8. The match winner. He deputised for Erling Haaland in the perfect way possible by scoring just 12 minutes into the game. The Argentine took his chance superbly, picking out the bottom corner to once again highlight his goalscoring ability. AFP
Riyad Mahrez – 6. Assisted Alvarez’s disallowed goal, which was ruled out due to a handball call against the Algerian. Lacked his usual end product on this occasion. Reuters
SUBS: John Stones (for Akanji, 57’) – 7. Helped shore things up at the back for City in the last 30 minutes after Chelsea had a strong start to the second half. PA
Erling Haaland (for Mahrez, 74’) – 6. Had a half chance to score not long after coming on, but the Premier League Golden Boot winner uncharacteristically dragged his effort wide. AP
Rodri (for Laporte, 78’) – 6. Kept things ticking over nicely for the hosts who were looking to close out the win. Another faultless display. Getty
Kevin De Bruyne (for Gomez, 78’) – 7. Whipped in several dangerous deliveries during the final 10 minutes, although none of his teammates were able to properly capitalise on them. Getty
CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6. Could do very little to prevent Alvarez from handing the home side an early lead. That aside, the Spaniard did well to hold on to several shots that were on target. Getty
Trevor Chalobah – 5. Struggled in the back three for Chelsea, getting caught in possession once or twice, while also being dragged out of position for the only goal of the game. One to forget. Getty
Thiago Silva – 7. Can be credited with keeping the score line at just 1-0, as without the Brazilian the result could have been an ugly one for Chelsea. His passing out from the back was especially impressive. Getty
Wesley Fofana – 4. The main culprit for Alverez’s goal, having given the ball away in a dangerous position. The defender also seemed to lack intensity at times, losing a couple of duels with City players. Getty
Cesar Azpilicueta – 5. Another Chelsea defender who was off the boil today. To his credit, the captain did look far more assured in the second period, even coming close to scoring in the final moments of the game. AP
Enzo Fernandez – 6. Showed glimpses of his star quality in spells, unlocking the City defence with some inch-perfect passes and through balls. With Chelsea struggling for possession, those moments were too infrequent, however. Getty
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 5. A largely anonymous display in midfield with the 27-year-old failing to stamp his authority on the game. He was subbed off with 10 minutes left to play. Reuters
Lewis Hall – 7. A real livewire down the left-hand side for Chelsea, especially going forward. The academy graduate forced a couple of tidy saves out of Ortega, all while tirelessly tracking back to assist Chalobah defensively. AFP
Conor Gallagher – 6. Looked sharp in the first half, even coming closest to scoring for the Blues after striking the post from close range. His influence waned as the game wore on, leading to him being replaced in the 70th minute. PA
Kai Havertz – 6. Almost got an assist after playing a through ball to Raheem Sterling in the first half. That was about as good as things got for the German who endured another frustrating game in front of goal. AFP
Raheem Sterling – 7. The former City man looked rejuvenated with the ball at his feet, even if his end product was still somewhat lacking. Sterling even triumphed where Vinicius Jr failed earlier this week – by beating Kyle Walker with a piece of skill. AFP
SUBS: Mykhailo Mudryk (for Gallagher, 69’) – 6. Another forgettable cameo from the Ukrainian, who looked well off the pace. Reuters
Noni Madueke (for Sterling, 69’) – 7. Added a real threat in the final 10 minutes for the visitors. Sadly, his smart crosses were squandered on this occasion. Reuters; Kalidou Koulibaly (for Hall, 81’) – N/A. Had a chance to score in added time but his header sailed well wide of Ortega’s post; Carney Chukwuemeka (for Loftus-Cheek, 81’) – N/A. The youngster came on for the final few minutes, having been held back from playing at the Under-20 FIFA World Cup earlier this week; Christian Pulisic (for Havertz, 85’) – N/A. Little of note to report.
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega – 7. Pulled off a couple of excellent saves in the first half to maintain City’s lead. While the stand-in stopper’s distribution was sometimes wayward, he looked sharp between the sticks.
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Kyle Walker – 6. Not at his very best, having made a handful of uncharacteristic mistakes. He was the only man to play the full 90 minutes both in this game and against Real Madrid in the week, so some fatigue is understandable. Reuters
Aymeric Laporte – 7. Led the line well in the absence of Ruben Dias, making several vital blocks and interceptions throughout the game. The defender also contributed to build-up play in possession. PA
Manuel Akanji – 7. Solid after being brought back into the heart of the City backline. The Swiss international was replaced by John Stones in the second half. AP
Sergio Gomez – 7. The left-back has barely played this season for Pep Guardiola but looked good in the inverted wing-back position. Promising signs. AP
Rico Lewis – 6. Started the game in midfield for the hosts, but often found himself inter-changing positions with Gomez. Looked tidy in possession and worked hard to recover the ball whenever it was lost. AP
Kalvin Phillips – 7. Was inches away from grabbing his first Man City goal after hitting the post with a nicely directed header. The England man finished the game strongly after a bit of a slow start. Getty
Phil Foden – 8. A classy display from the 22-year-old, who looked a real threat whenever he got on the ball in the final third. Not quite as potent in front of goal, but a silky display all-round. AP
Cole Palmer – 7. Arguably the most impressive of City’s squad players who started, having assisted Alvarez’s opener. The young forward’s agility and close ball control caused plenty of issues for the Chelsea defence. EPA
Julian Alvarez – 8. The match winner. He deputised for Erling Haaland in the perfect way possible by scoring just 12 minutes into the game. The Argentine took his chance superbly, picking out the bottom corner to once again highlight his goalscoring ability. AFP
Riyad Mahrez – 6. Assisted Alvarez’s disallowed goal, which was ruled out due to a handball call against the Algerian. Lacked his usual end product on this occasion. Reuters
SUBS: John Stones (for Akanji, 57’) – 7. Helped shore things up at the back for City in the last 30 minutes after Chelsea had a strong start to the second half. PA
Erling Haaland (for Mahrez, 74’) – 6. Had a half chance to score not long after coming on, but the Premier League Golden Boot winner uncharacteristically dragged his effort wide. AP
Rodri (for Laporte, 78’) – 6. Kept things ticking over nicely for the hosts who were looking to close out the win. Another faultless display. Getty
Kevin De Bruyne (for Gomez, 78’) – 7. Whipped in several dangerous deliveries during the final 10 minutes, although none of his teammates were able to properly capitalise on them. Getty
CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6. Could do very little to prevent Alvarez from handing the home side an early lead. That aside, the Spaniard did well to hold on to several shots that were on target. Getty
Trevor Chalobah – 5. Struggled in the back three for Chelsea, getting caught in possession once or twice, while also being dragged out of position for the only goal of the game. One to forget. Getty
Thiago Silva – 7. Can be credited with keeping the score line at just 1-0, as without the Brazilian the result could have been an ugly one for Chelsea. His passing out from the back was especially impressive. Getty
Wesley Fofana – 4. The main culprit for Alverez’s goal, having given the ball away in a dangerous position. The defender also seemed to lack intensity at times, losing a couple of duels with City players. Getty
Cesar Azpilicueta – 5. Another Chelsea defender who was off the boil today. To his credit, the captain did look far more assured in the second period, even coming close to scoring in the final moments of the game. AP
Enzo Fernandez – 6. Showed glimpses of his star quality in spells, unlocking the City defence with some inch-perfect passes and through balls. With Chelsea struggling for possession, those moments were too infrequent, however. Getty
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 5. A largely anonymous display in midfield with the 27-year-old failing to stamp his authority on the game. He was subbed off with 10 minutes left to play. Reuters
Lewis Hall – 7. A real livewire down the left-hand side for Chelsea, especially going forward. The academy graduate forced a couple of tidy saves out of Ortega, all while tirelessly tracking back to assist Chalobah defensively. AFP
Conor Gallagher – 6. Looked sharp in the first half, even coming closest to scoring for the Blues after striking the post from close range. His influence waned as the game wore on, leading to him being replaced in the 70th minute. PA
Kai Havertz – 6. Almost got an assist after playing a through ball to Raheem Sterling in the first half. That was about as good as things got for the German who endured another frustrating game in front of goal. AFP
Raheem Sterling – 7. The former City man looked rejuvenated with the ball at his feet, even if his end product was still somewhat lacking. Sterling even triumphed where Vinicius Jr failed earlier this week – by beating Kyle Walker with a piece of skill. AFP
SUBS: Mykhailo Mudryk (for Gallagher, 69’) – 6. Another forgettable cameo from the Ukrainian, who looked well off the pace. Reuters
Noni Madueke (for Sterling, 69’) – 7. Added a real threat in the final 10 minutes for the visitors. Sadly, his smart crosses were squandered on this occasion. Reuters; Kalidou Koulibaly (for Hall, 81’) – N/A. Had a chance to score in added time but his header sailed well wide of Ortega’s post; Carney Chukwuemeka (for Loftus-Cheek, 81’) – N/A. The youngster came on for the final few minutes, having been held back from playing at the Under-20 FIFA World Cup earlier this week; Christian Pulisic (for Havertz, 85’) – N/A. Little of note to report.
