3 takeaways from Manchester City's statement win at titleholder Chelsea

Pep Guardiola exorcised some demons at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea bettered Manchester City in both of last season's Premier League meetings, but while those bouts hinged on individual brilliance or errors, Saturday's contest was undoubtedly a tactical triumph for Guardiola over Antonio Conte.

In response to seeing Chelsea overload the midfield in Wednesday's 2-1 victory away at Atletico Madrid, City swarmed Conte's deep-lying contingent and cut off supply to Eden Hazard, who was instrumental in that meeting in the Spanish capital.

And it was one of the Manchester City manager's hard-working throng in the middle, Kevin De Bruyne, who converted the game's solitary goal after 67 minutes with a sublime, left-footed effort.

Here are three takeaways from City's deserved win in west London.

Deploying Delph helps bulk up the middle

Of all the players City could have lost to injury, Benjamin Mendy's absence required the most revisions to Guardiola's game plan. The Frenchman was a standout in the early days of the club's campaign - below Kevin De Bruyne, but perhaps on an even keel with fellow absentee Sergio Aguero - with his breathless running. His wide routes dimmed the touchline paint, helping eke out space in the middle for teammates and for him to pile his crosses into.

Considering his £26.5-million price tag, the natural choice to fill in on the left appeared to be Danilo, but his penchant to cut onto his right foot knocks the entire system off-balance.

Enter Fabian Delph.

The midfielder is a natural left-footer, and his intelligence and industry ensure he's a viable candidate as an auxiliary left-back. He was additionally able to slide inside as an inverted full-back when City was in possession, helping Guardiola combat Conte's crowded midfield and leaving the away side less susceptible to counter-attacks through the middle while Kyle Walker and Delph stood ahead of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.

Nevertheless, expect City to delve into the January market for another left-back. The latest timeline places Mendy's return in April, and Delph's nagging muscle issues and wanting pace make the Yorkshire lad an unlikely long-term solution.

What does Batshuayi have to do for Conte's trust?

Alvaro Morata had to be withdrawn 35 minutes into the contest, with the Spaniard clutching his hamstring. Conte didn't risk further damage, and looked to the bench for his replacement.

Michy Batshuayi - a crowd favourite thanks to his title-clinching finish against West Bromwich Albion last season, the last-second winner at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, and a Twitter-pleasing persona - was left stewing on the bench, wearing a classic chewing-a-wasp expression.

The introduction of Willian presumably indicated a few edits to Conte's tactical scribbles. Indeed, Hazard did then tend to attack on the same line as the Brazilian rather than operating behind a more advanced man, as he did with the injured Morata.

The change didn't work particularly well.

When Batshuayi was finally brought on after 73 minutes - not in the front-three he's accustomed to, and swamped by City's midfield - he was restricted to nine touches. He'll probably have to wait even longer for his turn.

KDB drags City over the line once again

What a season De Bruyne is having.

The red-topped engine in Guardiola's midfield was sensational once more, somehow outshining his elder colleague David Silva and cropping up in a range of positions throughout the encounter.

Though the ex-Chelsea man's graft off the ball is incredible, habitually switching between the zones drawn up by Guardiola, his work in possession truly sets him apart from his teammates.

Yes, his goal in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk and Saturday's effort in the capital were both beauties, but it's his constant probing that makes him the peskiest member of City's lineup to keep tabs on. One second he'll be neatly switching fairly innocuous short passes with the strengthened backline, and then he'll be thieving space between the opposition's midfield and defence, relentlessly smacking balls into the frontmen and springing cross-fielded missiles to the flanks.

Without Mendy and Aguero at Guardiola's disposal, City was able to make a chilling statement to its title rivals in the weekend bash. And again, the ruthless, inventive, and influential De Bruyne will deservedly attract plenty of plaudits. For now, there's only one contender for the 2017-18 PFA Player of the Year prize.

Related - Easy as KDB: City's engine is an early front-runner for PFA award

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)