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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Pep Guardiola full of praise for Chelsea after Man City held to thrilling draw

Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City side could have "no complaints" after Chelsea earned a thrilling draw, as he pointed to the difficulties other top sides have had at Stamford Bridge this season.

Cole Palmer scored a stoppage-time penalty against his former club as it finished 4-4 at Stamford Bridge, the second epic encounter involving Chelsea in less than a week after their chaotic win over Tottenham.

Erling Haaland put City in front from the penalty spot in west London, and while goals from Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling swiftly turned it around, Manuel Akanji's header got the visitors level again heading into half-time.

Within 90 seconds of the restart City took the lead once more, as Haaland turned the ball home from close range, before Nicolas Jackson pegged them back. Rodri's deflected strike looked to have won it with four minutes of normal time remaining, only for Palmer to hold his nerve in the final moments.

While Chelsea sit tenth in the table, and ten points off the top four, they are unbeaten in matches against City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham this season.

"They are a really good team so there's no doubt," Guardiola told Sky Sports.

Cole Palmer struck late against his former club (Getty Images)

"Liverpool couldn't win. They were much, much better than Arsenal and in the end, Arsenal drew. So you know, it's Chelsea, they won't go away."

He added: "I always have to think about what we can do to get better. It's not going to happen that we come here and win 7-0. They are trying to rebuild. We have no complaints."

Despite the late drama at Stamford Bridge, City still sit top of the Premier League. They have a one-point advantage over Liverpool and Arsenal, with Jurgen Klopp's side the opponents at the Etihad in the first match back after the upcoming international break.

"We go into [the break] top of the league and I didn't expect that after the Arsenal defeat," Guardiola said. "The next games are really tough."

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