LONDON: Second-half substitute Riyad Mahrez earned Manchester City a 1-0 win at Chelsea on Thursday to move Pep Guardiola’s 2022 champions to within five points of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

Mahrez got on the end of a perfectly placed cross from fellow sub Jack Grealish in the 63rd minute after City upped the tempo following a lacklustre first half from the visitors.

Guardiola’s halftime talk and substitutes proved the difference, because City were often outplayed in the first half despite Chelsea’s injury woes.

The Spanish coach looked delighted and relieved when the final whistle went and said the team had been sloppy and slow in first half.

“In the second half we were miles, miles better in every department. It’s a big result for us,” he told Sky Sports.

“For a long time we were at the top. But we try, we have the FA Cup and Carabao (League) Cup and then Old Trafford. But it’s important for these games, a win today.”

Chelsea lost two key forwards to injury within the first 22 minutes, with former City stalwart Raheem Sterling apparently injuring a hamstring shortly after kickoff and US international Christian Pulisic taking a knock.

Graham Potter’s side were already missing England full backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James as well as midfielder N’Golo Kante. Then Chelsea’s ever-present England midfielder Mason Mount failed to make the squad after an injury in training earlier this week.

“It’s tough at the moment I must admit and I feel for the boys,” Potter said. “We have to stick together. It was disappointing to lose those guys but the players on the pitch and the ones that came in gave everything and that’s all you can ask for.”

While City move closer to Arsenal, Chelsea are stranded in unaccustomed 10th place after some poor performances under Potter.

The home side were first to threaten seriously but City defender John Stones came to the rescue in the 16th minute as Pulisic bore down on goal, producing a perfectly timed sliding tackle to deny the US forward.

The American was injured in the challenge and was forced off minutes later.

Erling Haaland, who has 21 Premier League goals this season — one more than the entire Chelsea side — smashed a shot wide in the 38th minute on what proved to be a quiet evening for the Norwegian superstar.

Potter might be encouraged by his young substitutes who fought hard against a powerful City side and had some bright moments with 19-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka hitting the post in the first half. But they could not get past an experienced defence, ably marshalled by Stones.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2023