Manchester City vs Chelsea as it happened: Premier League

Match report: Silva downs unambitious Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois stretches as the ball loops over his bar (Getty Images)

Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad hoping to move an astonishing 18 points clear at the top of the Premier League, at least until Manchester United play Crystal Palace on Monday night.

The Blues have endured a mixed patch of form and are desperately in need of three points to keep up the chase on the top four, but that will be a tall order against this rampant City side, who are full of confidence having beaten Arsenal 3-0 in two successive matches.

Can last season's champions pull off a shock against this season's champions-elect?

Follow the game with our live blog below:

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Key Points

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Bernardo; Sane, Silva, De Bruyne; Aguero.

[4 March 2018 17:49 · Jack Watson]

90: Marcos Alonso tries to find one of the two strikers in the middle with a cross from the left but like most of Chelsea's deliveries today, it fails to beat Laporte at the front post. 

[4 March 2018 17:50 · Jack Watson]

90+1: David Silva receives a standing ovation as he comes off for Phil Foden. 

[4 March 2018 17:52 · Jack Watson]

90+4: Marcos Alonso volleys wide from the edge of the area. Not the worst opportunity in the world, that. 

[4 March 2018 17:52 · Jack Watson]

Full Time

[4 March 2018 17:55 · Jack Watson]

Pep Guardiloa and the Manchester City bench are celebrating this one with more enthusiasm than normal. They're 18 points clear and with just nine games to go, they are celebrating like it's theirs.

[4 March 2018 17:57 · Jack Watson]

Bernardo Silva scored shortly after halftime in a game that City absolutely dominated. Chelsea lined up with Eden Hazard leading the line as a false nine but failed to register a shot on target and only had two efforts on goal.

[4 March 2018 17:58 · Jack Watson]

[4 March 2018 17:59 · Jack Watson]

 Here's how the Premier League table looks after a great day for Manchester City and Brighton. It makes slightly less encouraging reading for Arsenal and Chelsea supporters who will be bitterly disappointed in their teams this afternoon.

[4 March 2018 18:03 · Jack Watson]

[4 March 2018 18:05 · Jack Watson]

That's all from an interesting afternoon of Premier League football. We're back tomorrow evening when Manchester United take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.