Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City: De Bruyne and Foden destroy hopeless Blues

Manchester City duo Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne were in scintillating form as they tore a poor Chelsea side to shreds at Stamford Bridge.

The match was over as a contest within the opening half hour, with City showing a level of incisive attacking play rarely witnessed this season in Pep Guardiola's new-found conservative style.

But for long spells of the first half they were at their brilliant offensive best, with attacking moves coming from various areas of the pitch.

It was Ilkay Gundogan who got this started, collecting a Foden layoff on the edge of the area before pivoting to launch a curling shot into Edouard Mendy's bottom corner.

And on 21 minutes it was 2-0. De Bruyne, masterful on the day, found space on the left-hand side and threaded a pass through the legs of Cesar Azpilicueta into the path of Foden, who swept home his finish first-time to double the lead.

And when a Hakim Ziyech free-kick left Chelsea amateurishly exposed defensively, Raheem Sterling sprinted from halfway, cut back in and rebounded his curling shot off the post, only for De Bruyne to control with ease and slot into the empty net.

City had further chances either side of half-time, with Gundogan failing to make it two with a neat backheel, while in the second half Rodri's close range header was brilliantly saved by Mendy.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's consolation in injury time, running onto a Kai Havertz pass, was barely deserved and on the day Chelsea were a ramshackle mess and questions will be asked of Frank Lampard.

City, meanwhile, are moving ominously within reach of Manchester United and Liverpool at the top of the table.