Haaland netted twice as Man City led three times in a remarkable game which eventually ended in shared spoils for Chelsea and Manchester City in a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Manchester City went into the game atop the table with 27 points while Chelsea were hoping to make it three wins on the bounce in all competitions especially after Monday’s 4-1 win over Spurs.
The game burst into life in the 25th minute when Haaland scored the opening goal of the game from the spot, while Chelsea replied through Thiago Silva four minutes later. Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead in the 37th minute before Manuel Akanji leveled the scoreline in first-half stoppage time.
Erling Haaland scored his brace immediately after the break to put the visitors back in front, while Niclas Jackson scored in the 67th minute to make it 3-3. Rodri scored what looked like the winner four minutes before time, but a late penalty was converted by Cole Palmer against his former side.
The draw puts Chelsea in tenth with 16 points from 12 games while Manchester City remains at the top of the table with 28 points, one ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal in second and third respectively.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was satisfied with the game even though he and his Chelsea counterpart, Mauricio Pochettino, didn’t exchange pleasantries after the game.
“It was a good advert and an entertaining game for the Premier League, and both teams wanted to win. I wouldn’t have expected differently. Chelsea has a fantastic team and players. We had momentum [during the game] two or three transitions one-on-one, which we could not finish, but the game was in the moment at the end. A tight game, but a fair result. I congratulate the team, we go into the break and we qualify for the Champions League and we come back [after the international break] and go.” Guardiola said.
Sunday’s Premier League Results.
FT: Liverpool 3-0 Brentford
FT: Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham
FT: Brighton 1-1 Sheffield Utd
FT: West Ham 3-2 Nottingham Forest.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
