Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City: 3 Reasons why City lost | Premier League 2018-19

#3 Lacklustre performances from stars

Much was expected from Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling, the men tasked with leading City's line tonight, and both of them put in performances well below the bar that they've recently.

Mahrez always looked to cut in from the right, and Marcos Alonso and Luiz seemed to have the Algerian's number, who put in one of his least effective shifts since becoming City's record signing.

Bernardo Silva made several clever runs looking to free up space for the former Leicester City player, but tonight was just not his night, as he seemed to be a yard off his pace, getting second to almost every ball, and was taken off for Phil Foden at the 84th minute.

Mahrez was utterly disappointing against Chelsea

Leroy Sane, City's bright spark in the first half, was surprisingly sacrificed by the coach in place of an out of form Gabriel Jesus, whose dry streak in front of goal continued tonight at Stamford Bridge. Sterling or Mahrez were arguably better candidates to be taken off so early, as Sane was constantly troubling Azpilicueta, and had him on the ropes on more occasion than one in the first half.

Chelsea grew into the game after he was taken off, and were arguably the better side after the young Brazilian's arrival on the pitch, and the Blues looked more potent despite having much less of the ball than the visitors, who were allowed to have possession for the sake of it, especially after the home side went two goals up.

I'm sure Manchester City will bounce back and return to their imperious best, but this game may have given the rest of the world a blueprint on how to stop Guardiola's juggernaut.