Player ratings as citizens wow Blues with glittering first half display

First-half goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne helped Manchester City win 3-1 over a lackluster Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

City started the game well and took the lead as Gundogan cleared Thiago Silva on the edge of the box before firing a shot from the bottom corner.

Soon after, the visitors doubled their advantage. Foden’s persistence paid off with the winger who tapped De Bruyne’s down seconds after being dispossessed. Ahead of the break, City caught a third with De Bruyne at home after Raheem Sterling burst free following a Chelsea free kick.

After that scintillating first half, the game fell apart without either side appearing to want to add to the score after the break. Eventually though, substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi grabbed a consolation, slipping through Kai Havertz’s cross seconds before the final whistle.

Here are your notes from Blues and Citizens players from Stamford Bridge…

Édouard Mendy (GK) – 4/10 – I should have done better with City’s first two goals.

Cesar Azpilicueta (RB) – 4/10 – Beaten for rhythm many times by Foden. Not what he would have wanted in his 400th appearance.

Kurt Zouma (CB) – 5/10 – I should have made sure with his sloppy clearance which led to City’s second.

Thiago Silva (CB) – 4/10 – Turned pretty easily for the first goal. The marking was soft for the second.

Ben Chilwell (LB) – 6/10 – It’s okay. Constantly moving forward and keeping Sterling fairly calm.

N’Golo Kante (CM) – 6/10 – His mistake led to the third goal. However, without his five tackles, things would have been even worse for his team. Replaced on time after adjusting his hamstring.

Mason frame (CM) – 5/10 – Quite anonymous. I worked hard but did not have a creative impact on the game.

Mateo Kovacic (CM) – 5/10 – A frustrating afternoon. Struggled to gain a foothold in midfield and City played with him on points in the second half.

Hakim Ziyech (RW) – 4/10 – Nothing created. Lots of touches, but very little attack intent.

Timo Werner (ST) – 4/10 – Ran in several dead ends, losing possession four times in the first half alone. Had a bang the whole game.

Christian Pulisic (LW) – 6/10 – Chelsea’s brightest forward. I was always trying something, as evidenced by his 14, yes 14, dribbling attempts. However, a final product was lacking.

Billy Gilmour – 7/10 – It looked pretty good after coming. His cool legs added a bit of bite to the midfield.

Callum Hudson-Odoi – 7/10 – Scored a consolation at the end.

Kai Havertz – 7/10 – Provided help for Chelsea’s lone goal.

Zack Steffen (GK) – 6/10 – Marked his Premier League debut by collecting a back pass in the opening five minutes. Very little to do afterwards.

Joao Cancelo (RB) – 8/10 – Excellent. He has at times played an almost deep and threatened overlap midfielder role.

John Stones (CB) – 8/10 – Looked solid. Made a particularly large block in the first half. Also dominant in the air.

Ruben Dias (CB) – 8/10 – Another beautiful screen. Led his side in blocks and clearances.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – 8/10 – Did well defensively and also offered a lot going forward. City would be foolish to let him go in January.

Rodri (CM) – 7/10 – A few awkward moments in possession early on. Settled later.

Ilkay Gundogan (CM) – 9/10 – One of his best games in recent memory. Opened the scoring with a superb strike and knitted things well in midfield.

Bernardo Silva (AM) – 7/10 – No direct involvement in a goal, but he was generally tidy in possession.

Raheem Sterling (RW) – 7/10 – Showed good poise to create the third goal.

Kevin De Bruyne (ST) – 9/10 – I missed a good chance at the start but quickly caught up with it by assisting and scoring before the break.

Phil Foden (LW) – 8/10 – Rinsed Azpilicueta several times. It was a true throwback to the glory days of the Premier League wingers.

Fernandinho – 6/10 – The game was won the moment it was presented.

Riyad Mahrez – N / A

Sergio Aguero – N / A