MANCHESTER City’s defensive midfielder Rodri popped up with an important goal against Chelsea to take his team’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to nine games.

This was the first time in 12 games across all competitions that City had failed to win.

It’s a run that has seen them lift the Club World Cup and progress in the FA Cup and Champions League.

In the Premier League, City are now four points behind Liverpool with one game in hand.

Both City and Chelsea had some great opportunities to win Saturday’s midday clash.

Chelsea were one well-weighted pass away from opening the scoring on numerous occasions in the first half.

Malo Gusto eventually made one of these passes count, only for Nicolas Jackson to miss the chance when one-on-one with Ederson.

It was one of numerous big chances missed in this game.

Man City striker Erling Haaland will be disappointed not to have added his name to the scoresheet given the opportunities in front of goal that fell his way.

Onlookers would have expected the prolific Norwegian to take at least one of them, especially as he returned to goalscoring form by scoring twice in the previous league game against Everton.

Eventually, one such chance was taken when Jackson did well to find Raheem Sterling on the break.

Though the winger’s first touch and movement was not the best, he eventually worked his way around the recovering Kyle Walker and lifted the ball over the onrushing Ederson.

Chelsea lost their attacking threat later in the second half, especially when Cole Palmer, who had been playing from the right wing, was replaced by defender Trevoh Chalobah.

City piled on the pressure and eventually, inevitably, found the equaliser in the last 10 minutes.

Walker saw a shot blocked by Axel Disasi but Rodri was on hand to fire home the rebound, his shot deflecting in off Chalobah.

Among other fixtures, City face Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal next month in what will be a key few weeks in the title race.