Every start is challenging, especially if you find yourself in the starting XI of the declining EPL champion at the packed Etihad against Chelsea. Just ask poor Abdukodir Khusanov… The 20-year-old Uzbek defender went through a nightmare debut as he made a horrible mistake which gifted the Blues with an early opener. Thankfully for Khusanov and his boss, Pep Guardiola, Manchester City managed to bounce back and come from behind to clinch a vital 3-1 victory.Pep Guardiola has got that smile back! 😄🩵 pic.twitter.com/fHEnmJehEd— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 25, 2025 Blatantly overwhelmed, Khusanov wanted to head the ball back to Ederson but instead provided Cole Palmer with a perfect chance to set Noni Madueke for the easiest possible tap-in. It was 0-1 after just three minutes, and the young centre-back definitely lost his calm, going from one mistake to another in the following minutes, getting on the verge of being sent off.He received a sympathetic round of applause from the home fans then, though, which boosted his morale after that dreadful start to his Premier League career.KHUSANOV CREATES A GOAL 2 MINUTES INTO HIS DEBUT 🌟 pic.twitter.com/13jXTfkHf9— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) January 25, 2025 The other newcomer, Omer Marmoush, found it much easier to accomodate as he was close to scoring in two occasions, but both reinforcements were subbed off in the second half.The hosts equalized before the break, thanks to Josko Gvardiol, who might not be the best defender ever, but his offensive skills are just second-to-none, which he proved once more when rebounding on Mateus Nunes’ shot to make it 1-1.For quite some time in the second half, it seemed like we were heading for a deserved draw before Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, stepped up to show Khusanov what a king-size howler looks like.Gary Neville ‘he’s not good enough him’ about Sanchez in goal for Chelsea. Got to agree with Gary on this one. pic.twitter.com/9nGs5z0nJu— R.O. Signed Memorabilia (@_ROMemorabilia_) January 25, 2025 Ederson played a long ball to Erling Haaland, who went past Trevoh Chalobah, as Sanchez came out for no reason at all, finding himself in the no-man’s land. Haaland accepted that gift, curling the ball over him and into the empty net from 18 yards.The cherry on the top was Phil Foden’s late masterpiece, who dashed into the box from a resolute counter to wrap up the tie.PHIL FODEN MATA O JOGO!MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 CHELSEA!pic.twitter.com/KClmKEqohi— Curiosidades PL (@CuriosidadesPRL) January 25, 2025 PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 23Saturday Bournemouth – Nott.Forest 5-0 (1-0)/Kluivert 9, Outtara 55,61,87, Semenyo 90+1/Brighton – Everton 0-1 (0-1)/Ndiaye 42 pen/Liverpool – Ipswich 4-1 (3-0)/Szoboszlai 11, Salah 35, Gakpo 44, 66 – Greaves 90/Southampton – Newcastle 1-3 (1-2)/Bednarek 10 – Isak 26 pen, 30, Tonali 51/Wolverhampton – Arsenal 0-1 (0-0)/Calafiori 74/Manchester City – Chelsea 3-1 (1-1)/Gvardiol 42, Haaland 68, Foden 87 – Madueke 3/Sunday 17.00: (2.10) Crystal Palace (3.45) Brentford (3.50)17.00: (1.50) Tottenham (5.25) Leicester (6.00)19.30: (1.58) Aston Villa (4.20) West Ham (6.50)22.00: (2.45) Fulham (3.50) Man.Utd. (3.05)***odds are subject to change***
