- An improved Chelsea came close to taking all three points at Manchester City
- Mauricio Pochettino’s Etihad line-up is their best chance to beat Liverpool
- Liverpool must be ruthless – Jurgen Klopp must maintain a two-point lead until title clash with Man City – It all starts podcast
These are not the kind of days that have defined Mauricio Pochettino’s first months in one of the country’s most popular seats. His Chelsea side usually do well against the elite, the rest not so well.
Chelsea has now taken two points from Manchester City, one from Arsenal, three from Tottenham.
Defeat at Manchester United felt unfortunate given the chances they created. Another point from Liverpool, although last month’s heavy defeat at Anfield will still be fresh in their minds when they play the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
Pochettino was rightly praised for Chelsea’s display at the Etihad Stadium. At least until the 71st minute, when a confident Cole Palmer departed for Trevoh Chalobah and the visitors tried to maintain a one-goal lead with five at the back.
They couldn’t do it all the way, but green shoots were visible.
Mauricio Pochettino’s display in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City was largely effective
Raheem Sterling made his breakthrough against his former club before equalizing for the final time
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Chelsea prefer these games when it is up to the opposition to take the lead, and they can pick their moments to counter-attack in much the same way as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did when he revived United. Solskjaer’s problem was that his team was always going to be one ready to dominate possession, but he never really managed to do that.
Pochettino has a remarkably similar job: managing a bloated team, many of which he doesn’t want, and the need to find a system that works in the short term.
Their line-up against City gives them the best chance to upset Liverpool. It’s Conor Gallagher’s pressure, Raheem Sterling’s floating and Palmer’s vision. Chelsea have the weapons to hurt the best, and for long spells here they have done just that.
“We had chances to finish the game, which to be fair they did, but we had some really good chances to seal the win,” Sterling said.
‘It’s a bit of a disappointment that we didn’t win the match. We just had to stay at City and use our brains and the opportunities would arise in transition.”
With Sterling’s talent and the ability of other players, Chelsea can hurt the best teams
Pairing Enzo Fernandez (left) and Moises Caicedo allows both midfielders to flourish
The counter-attacking tactic that Sterling talked about has become a necessity due to the club’s confused recruitment. The expensive combination of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are both great midfielders, but often fill parallel roles. Being in a pair, as they did at City, allows both to flourish.
Ask them to do something different at home against, say, wolves, and the results are less than flattering. And that’s before another deeper midfielder, Romeo Lavia, returns.
Pochettino realizes he must be flexible in his philosophy to get this season done. Chelsea sold quite well last summer and will need to do so again if they want to sign a new striker and centre-back, the areas identified as their priorities for transfer activity.
But there have been encouraging signs of late, with a strong win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup and a victory over Crystal Palace showing character.
Pochettino needs more time, but there is now confidence that he has something to build on.