Chelsea analysis: Clinical Diego Costa outshines Sergio Aguero as Anthony Taylor infuriates Manchester City

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Simon Johnson3 December 2016

Chelsea beat Manchester City 3-1 to widen their lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Gary Cahill's own goal put City ahead, but strikes from Diego Costa, Willian and Eden Hazard handed Chelsea all three points as referee Anthony Taylor sent off both Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho as tempered flared in injury time.

The away win boosts Chelsea's tally to 34 points, four ahead of Liverpool who play Bournemouth on Sunday.

Standard Sport's Simon Johnson assesses the key talking points...

Diego Costa outshines Sergio Aguero

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

It wasn't just because of his goal, but in the battle of the leading Premier League scorers, Costa deserves greater credit.

Aguero was a constant menace to Chelsea's defence and on another day would have had a hat-trick.

But he wasn't his normal clinical self, while Costa was feeding off scraps for most of the afternoon and still made the difference.

He took his goal superbly, cheating down Fabregas' pass before cutting inside Nicolas Otamendi to fire the ball home.

But his hold up play was sublime throughout and it was his delightful through ball that set up Willian for the second.

Anthony Taylor won't be popular around these parts

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Much has been made in the past about how Taylor lives just six miles away from Old Trafford.

The blue half of Manchester didn't need any more excuse than that to not like him before kick-off but a series of decisions by the match official angered them too.

They wanted David Luiz to be sent off for blocking Sergio Aguero's run on goal as well as a penalty just before half-time".

'You're not fit to referee' they sang, while he was booed off loudly at half-time.

There was more controversy to come as Taylor sent Aguero off for a disgusting challenge on Luiz deep into injury time, and dismissed Fernandinho for pushing Cesc Fabregas over the advertising boardings.

Fabregas shows why he's a blessing and a curse

PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Chelsea had to change their side for the first time due to a calf injury to Nemanja Matic, which meant a first start for over two months for Cesc Fabregas.

Coach Antonio Conte clearly has his doubts over the Spain midfielder, regardless of the fact he's been injured of late.

Here we saw why. With time and space on the ball, there are few better. His passes to Eden Hazard in the first half and Diego Costa for Chelsea's equaliser were sublime.

But Chelsea were hopelessly exposed in midfield time and time again by his lack of pace and movement.

His presence on the pitch also appeared to have a negative effect on N'Golo Kante, who was neither measured on the ball or in the tackle.

Conte will hope Matic is back fit sooner rather than later.

John Stones can learn a thing or two from David Luiz

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

If Chelsea had their way 15 months ago, Stones rather than Luiz would have been been playing in the middle of the back three today.

Chelsea failed to agree a fee with Everton though and he ended up joining Manchester City instead last summer.

Stones clearly has a lot of ability and made some timely interventions here, although he was caught napping in his own area by Costa early on.

Chelsea were mocked when they turned to Luiz in late August, but no-one is laughing now.

He was immense at the Etihad stadium, blocking and clearing crosses and making timely tackles.

The Brazil international was also sublime in possession and was shouting encouragement, plus some criticism, to his teammates.

At 29, Luiz is seven years older than Stones. The latter could certainly benefit from watching how The elder statesman played the role today.

Kevin De Bruyne shines, but miss cost City

Antonio Conte admitted on the eve of this fixture that he felt it was a 'pity' De Bruyne was no longer at Chelsea".

De Bruyne asked to leave the club in 2014 after growing fed up of a lack of first team football and while they got £18m from Wolfsburg at the time, they have paid a heavier price since then.

The Belgium international is now one of the best players in the world as was shown by Manchester City's willingness to pay around £54m for him.

Against his former club this afternoon, he exuded quality. The attacking midfielder tormented his former club with neat passes and superb crosses from the right flank.

While it wasn't his cross that led to Gary Cahill's own goal, he should claim the assist. One suspects he was so disorientated by all the danger De Bruyne had caused, he lost his cool when Jesus Navas fired the ball across instead.

Still, he let chelsea off the hook in the second half with a shocking Miss from just six yards out.

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