The Blues enjoyed the better chances, although not the possession, in the opening period. We had the ball in the net too, after Marc Cucurella finished following good work from Joao Pedro. However, the offside flag came to City's aid.

Yet early into the second period, Nico O'Reilly headed the visitors in front. A second arrived soon after as Marc Guehi drilled a shot into the far corner. Rayan Cherki was the architect for both goals.

The Blues looked to fashion a response, but Jeremy Doku guided home a third for the visitors to ensure they left west London with a victory.

Carrying a threat

Rosenior made two changes to the side that started our FA Cup quarter-final victory over Port Vale. Marc Cucurella came into the side for Tosin Adarabioyo, which saw Jorrel Hato move into centre-back, and Moises Caicedo replaced Romeo Lavia in midfield.

City, in need of three points to close the gap to top-flight leaders Arsenal, started with purpose. Yet after coming through five minutes of pressure through possession, the Blues fashioned the early chances.

The first came from Palmer, who drove into the City area and fired into the side netting. Joao Pedro did the same soon after, before Palmer had another effort deflected into the hands of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

City regained their composure and again enjoyed a period with the ball in Chelsea's half. However, Robert Sanchez was untested as the Chelsea defence restricted the visitors.

Denied an opener

When the Blues broke forward and then maintained possession in the City half, chances followed. In the 16th minute, we appeared to have broken the deadlock when a wonderful slaloming run from Joao Pedro saw him skip past several defenders and slide a pass to Cucurella.

The Spaniard finished confidently, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag. VAR confirmed the Chelsea full-back had strayed just offside. It was a let-off for Pep Guardiola's side.

We didn't relent, though, and another burst forward followed. This time, Estevao raked a crossfield pass to Neto, who cut inside, powered past Rodri, and drove a shot low that Donnarumma had to save.

City pressure

The final 15 minutes of the opening period were predominantly played in the Chelsea half, and the visitors twice worked Sanchez. The Blues goalkeeper first produced a smart reaction stop to deny an effort from Bernardo Silva after a smart cutback from O'Reilly.

Sanchez then produced a routine stop to hold an effort from Cherki, before Antonie Semenyo had an effort deflected wide of the post by Andrey Santos.

The Brazilian then registered the final effort of the first half, as he connected to a deep Pedro Neto free-kick at the back post. Yet his header cleared the crossbar and the contest was goalless at the break.

Quickfire double

City picked up from where they left off after the restart. There was a sight of goal for Erling Haaland, but an excellent Hato denied the striker. Cherki then saw a shot flash across Sanchez's goal.

The pressure from Guardiola's side did eventually pay off, though. Six minutes after the restart, Cherki flighted a cross into the Chelsea penalty area and O'Reilly was able to outmuscle Andrey Santos and plant his header beyond Sanchez.

City went in search of a quick second and Cucurella was forced into smart defensive work to deflect a shot wide from Semenyo. It was only a temporary reprieve, though.

Six minutes after going ahead, City added a second. Cherki was the creator again, as he collected a shot corner, evaded two challenges on the edge of our box, and slipped the ball through to Guehi. The centre-back steadied himself and finished confidently into the far corner.

Decisive third

The Blues needed to score the next goal. We fashioned an opportunity, too, as a Cucurella cutback found Palmer, but his goalbound effort was deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Donnarumma punched a header from Hato clear.

Rosenior turned to his bench. Romeo Lavia and Alejandro Garnacho were introduced, with Andrey Santos and Estevao replaced. Yet before they could impact the game, City struck the killer third goal.

It was avoidable on the part of the Blues, as Caicedo was robbed of possession by Doku in our defensive third, and the City winger broke forward and finished.

The Blues continued in search of a goal; Cucurella flashed a shot wide from distance. Abdukodir Khusanov did the same for City soon after, and Sanchez denied Semenyo as the game moved toward its conclusion.

Rosenior made another double change in the final ten minutes, with Dario Essugo and Liam Delap introduced for Caicedo and Joao Pedro.

We then forced Donnarumma into a smart stop, as Cucurella was denied from close range following an intelligent Lavia pass. The Italian goalkeeper then reacted well to keep out a Palmer free-kick.

Eight minutes were added for stoppages, during which Haaland was denied by Sanchez in what proved the final meaningful moment of a disappointing afternoon for the Blues.

What comes next...

The second in our Manchester double-header comes next weekend, as we welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge next Saturday for an 8pm kick-off.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto (Acheampong 88), Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Andrey Santos (Lavia 67), Caicedo (c) (Essugo 81); Estevao (Garnacho 67), Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro (Delap 81)Chelsea substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Tosin, Sarr, GuiuBooked: Estevao 12, Essugo 90+8

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly (Ait-Nouri 64); Bernardo Silva (Kovacic 81), Rodri; Semenyo, Cherki (Foden 76), Doku (Savinho 76); Haaland
Manchester City substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Reijinders, Gonzalez, Marmoush
Goalscorers: O'Reilly 51, Guehi 57, Doku 68
Booked: Semenyo 38,

Attendance: TBC