Tijjani Reijnders' thumping first-half strike looked like giving City the lift-off they were looking for in the second half of the season. McFarlane, a former academy coach at the Etihad, employed a gameplan that appeared to revolve around exploiting City on the counter-attack. Bernardo Silva floated a curling shot too high and Erling Haaland's shot was saved by Jorgensen after looping off Trevoh Chalobah's leg. Haaland then took Rodri's pass and cut inside Benoit Badiashile before lashing a shot high past Jorgensen that bounced back out off the inside of the post. CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen 7; Acheampong 6 (Hato 62, 5), Chalobah 6, Badiashile 6, Gusto 7; James 7, Fernandez 6; Estevao 5 (Santos 45, 6), Palmer 5, Pedro Neto 5; Joao Pedro 5 (Delap 62, 5).

Source: Irish Examiner January 04, 2026 20:03 UTC