Three things we learned – Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

Manchester Metropolis conceded a final minute equaliser to managerless Chelsea to make sure they solely got here out with some extent from a recreation they largely dominated within the Premier League.

Enzo Fernandez bundled the ball in on the backpost within the fourth minute of harm time to earn his facet a smash and seize that their second half exhibiting maybe prompt would come.

Tijjani Reijnders had given Metropolis the lead in a primary half that they dominated, however the second half was extraordinarily sloppy from Pep Guardiola’s facet, significantly within the last third, they usually had been made to pay for it late on to proceed their winless begin to 2026.

Listed here are three issues we discovered from the draw with Chelsea:

Extra recruitment is required in January

Manchester Metropolis are all the way down to the naked bones now, as 4 accidents have struck within the first 4 days of 2026.

Nico Gonzalez and Savinho had been absent from the squad towards Chelsea after going off towards Sunderland, so as to add to the present accidents for Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones.

Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri proceed to be absent as they symbolize their international locations on the Africa Cup of Nations, while the likes of Rodri and Jeremy Doku have solely simply returned from accidents, with the previous particularly needing his minutes managed if he’s to keep up his health in the long run.

And Guardiola has confirmed that while Nico is match once more, the accidents picked up by Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol towards Chelsea had been extreme.

Dias ought to be out for simply over a month with a muscle harm, while Gvardiol can be fortunate to characteristic once more this season after fracturing his tibia following a problem from former Metropolis participant Cole Palmer.

The board reacted promptly by recalling 20-year-old centre again Max Alleyne from his mortgage spell at Watford, while respected switch journalists Sami Mokbel and Fabrizio Romano declare that Metropolis will push to signal Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi this window, slightly than for a free in the summertime.

On high of the anticipated arrival of Antoine Semenyo after the midweek spherical of fixtures, Metropolis will hope that by bolstering their squad with the arrival of Alleyne and probably Guehi will give them sufficient to maintain up the stress on Arsenal on the high of the Premier League desk.

Foden and Cherki want a relaxation

Arguably Metropolis’s two worst performers towards Calum MacFarlane’s facet had been Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden, who’ve each been superb within the final month or so.

Each made loads of poor choices with the ball, significantly within the last third, which ultimately led to Chelsea with the ability to get extra of a grip of the sport and discover their equaliser.

Guardiola has obtained a good bit of criticism from supporters for no matter motive after the sport, however one mistake I did assume he made was to take off the a lot brisker trying Reijnders for Jeremy Doku while Foden and Cherki performed the total 90.

The Exeter recreation on the weekend, in addition to the return to health of Doku and impending arrival of Semenyo means Metropolis will be capable of afford them a relaxation quickly, to allow them to return to type trying a bit brisker.

Brighton is now an exceptionally necessary recreation

Metropolis now should cease the mini stoop towards Brighton and Hove Albion on the Etihad in midweek and restore a constructive morale across the membership.

Loads of gamers – particularly Foden, Cherki and Nico O’Reilly, are going to should play by means of a little bit of ache and fatigue earlier than getting a relaxation towards Exeter on Saturday.

Metropolis can’t go into that recreation off the again of three winless video games in a row; they’ll have fallen additional behind Arsenal within the Premier League title race and stress can be on to win, and Guardiola subsequently could also be much less inclined to need to rotate.

Three factors towards the Seagulls means Metropolis will stay inside an inexpensive distance of Arsenal on the high of the desk and can restore a little bit of confidence, in addition to permitting Guardiola to make use of the Exeter recreation as an opportunity for relaxation and rotation.