Man City vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and final score as De Bruyne scores brilliant winner
Follow the reaction as City moved 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 1-0 win over Chelsea
Follow live reaction after Manchester City increased their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 13 points as Kevin De Bruyne’s sublime strike earned the defending champions a 1-0 win over second-placed Chelsea.
De Bruyne curled an excellent strike past Kepa Arrizabalaga from outside of the box in the 70th minute to hand the hosts a victory they thoroughly deserved after a commanding performance against the European champions.
City dominated possession in the first half but Jack Grealish was denied an opening goal when Kepa blocked his shot with an outstretched leg. Romelu Lukaku, who had a poor game for the visitors, went close after the break but saw a curling effort saved by Ederson.
Chelsea continued to struggle to create chances, despite the introduction of Mason Mount and Timo Werner from the bench, and the defeat is a significant blow to their hopes of challenging for the title.
Follow all the reaction to Man City vs Chelsea below:
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
60 mins: Chance! Matty Cash is spared some blushes after an attempted clearance sends the ball into the path of Anthony Elanga. He chests the ball down and darts to the left before sending a shot inches wide of the left-hand post!
That’s been United’s best moment of the second half and it came from an Aston Villa mistake.
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
57 mins: Chance! Digne breezes around Dalot and takes the ball down the left side of the box for Villa. He cuts it back to Buendia who hits a first time shot at goal but sends the chance straight into the hands of De Gea.
United’s goalkeeper is being called into action too often, the visitors need to get a foothold in the game, Villa are bossing it at the minute.
Another well worked move from Villa sees them quickly switch the play over to Digne in space on the left. He carries the ball into the box and shoots but rattles the chance into the side-netting.
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
54 mins: Aston Villa have picked up where they left off in the first half. They’re all over Man Utd’s final third forcing the defenders out of position and working crosses into the box.
Watkins clips Fernandes as he tries to clear United’s lines. The Portuguese stays down to earn his team a respite and doesn’t take too kindly to Watkins pulling him back to his feet.
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
51 mins: Save! De Gea to the rescue again. Watkins brings the ball down the left wing and passes it inside to Jacob Ramsey. He plays a one-two with Buendia to get into space in the box before shifting the ball to the left of Lindelof and firing a shot towards the bottom corner. De Gea dives low and pushes the shot wide of the post!
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
48 mins: Save! Cavani gets on the end of a simple forward ball and heads it into the box for Elanga who sweeps in from the left. He hits a good shot at goal but Martinez parries the ball to safety.
It’s been a scratchy start to the second half for United as Matic brings Buendia down with another late challenge. He’s already been booked so needs to be careful.
Second half: Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
Kick off: Ezri Konsa hasn’t come back out after half-time and is replaced with Kortney Hause. Villa get the match back underway, and slowly work the ball back to the goalkeeper. He boots it back into the middle of the pitch where Morgan Sanson takes the ball over to the right wing. Fernandes comes flying across and slides into a tackle that cleans out Sanson and results in a yellow card.
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Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
As it stands Manchester United will move above Tottenham into sixth and be just three points behind West Ham with a game in hand. Villa have the second half to get back into the game and it could be a matter of which side starts better.
United made the quicker, more aggressive start to the first half and if they do so again it could be tough work for Steven Gerrard’s men.
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
Since his Premier League debut in February 2020, only Mo Salah (45) and Harry Kane (34) have scored more goals than Bruno Fernandes (32), while only James Ward-Prowse (7) has scored more goals from outside the box than the Portuguese (6).
Half-time: Aston Villa 0 - 1 Man Utd
45+5 mins: A shocking mistake from Emi Martinez has given Manchester United the lead at Villa Park. Both teams have had their chances with Martinez redeeming himself to keep out Mason Greenwood from close range. Emiliano Buendia came close to an equaliser for Villa but David De Gea’s reactionary save denied him.
So, it’s advantage United but there’s plenty in the game for Villa to stage a comeback.
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