Euro Leagues | Rodri salvages level however Manchester Metropolis stumble in Premier League title race

Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher chases Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea on the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, on Feb. 17, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP

Rodri’s late equaliser prolonged Manchester Metropolis’s year-long unbeaten file at house however a 1-1 draw towards Chelsea on Saturday handed Liverpool and Arsenal an enormous increase within the Premier League title race.

Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea a first-half lead on his return to the Etihad and Metropolis had been headed to a primary defeat on house soil for 34 video games till Rodri’s deflected effort seven minutes from time.

Metropolis transfer 4 factors behind leaders Liverpool and two adrift of Arsenal, however have a sport in hand on each their title rivals.

A 3-1 Champions League win in Copenhagen in midweek was Metropolis’s eleventh consecutive victory in all competitions as they appeared effectively set to defend the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup they gained final season.

However Chelsea uncovered chinks within the champions’ armour.

Metropolis have stored simply seven clear sheets in 24 Premier League video games this season.

“I feel we weren’t nice within the first half. We conceded one other simple purpose. I feel we’ve to defend higher,” stated Rodri.

“We knew about their counter-attacks and quick gamers, however we’ve to defend the counter-attack higher. From there, it is all the time harder to come back again.”

Mauricio Pochettino’s males have usually saved their greatest performances for the most important challenges throughout a troublesome season for the Blues.

Chelsea took factors off all three title contenders at house earlier within the season and eventually produced a counter-attacking show on the highway that gives Pochettino hope forward of subsequent weekend’s League Cup last towards Liverpool.

“I really feel just like the lads are assured,” stated Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

“We’ve had some good performances, after which right now towards a high group. I really feel like we’re going into the subsequent sport with loads of confidence and we’re excited for it.”

Haaland’s night time to neglect

Chelsea ought to have led a lot earlier within the first half as Nicolas Jackson did not beat Ederson when clear via after a slick counter-attack minimize Metropolis large open.

Pep Guardiola’s males didn’t study their lesson as one other ex-Metropolis man Cole Palmer despatched Jackson in behind and he picked out Sterling, who coolly minimize inside Kyle Walker and fired into the far nook on 42 minutes.

Sterling’s celebrations had been muted, however the purpose would have been greeted with glee in Merseyside and north London.

Erling Haaland had headed over Metropolis’s solely clear probability of the opening 45 minutes, however they flew out of the blocks after the break.

Kevin De Bruyne’s dipping free-kick landed on the roof of the web earlier than Sterling was exceptionally fortunate to keep away from conceding a penalty for bringing down Walker inside the world.

Nevertheless, as Metropolis chased an equaliser they grew to become even simpler to choose off on the counter.

Ederson produced a surprising save to disclaim Sterling his second and Ruben Dias wanted to go Ben Chilwell’s follow-up effort off the road.

Haaland’s tempo and energy lastly took him away from the Chelsea defence 25 minutes from time, however Djordje Petrovic was equal to his deflected effort on the close to submit.

The Norwegian had 9 pictures on purpose, however his night time to neglect was then rounded off when he left the 53,000 capability crowd aghast as he headed effectively off track with the purpose gaping from a perfectly-weighted De Bruyne cross.

Metropolis did no less than salvage some extent as Rodri maintained his personal private year-long unbeaten file.

The final time the Spaniard was on the dropping aspect in a Metropolis shirt was February 5, 2022.

The person who scored the winner in final season’s Champions League last wanted the help of a deflection as his pushed effort flew into the highest nook off Trevoh Chalobah.

An sudden level lifts Chelsea again into the highest half of the desk and inside six factors of the highest six.