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As it happenedended

Manchester City vs Chelsea as it happened: Premier League

Match report: Silva downs unambitious Chelsea

Jack Watson
Sunday 04 March 2018 17:28 GMT
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Thibaut Courtois stretches as the ball loops over his bar
Thibaut Courtois stretches as the ball loops over his bar (Getty Images)

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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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24: Willian drives forward and delivers a low cross which is cleared by Nicolas Otamendi. The referee then goes back to caution Oleksander Zinchenko who recklessly lunges in Victor Moses. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:25

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:26

27: Off the line! A curling ball finds Leroy Sane at the back post, he touches the ball back onto his right foot and hits a shot destined for the bottom corner from an angle. The ball is heading in but Cesar Azpilecueta clears from the line.

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:28

28: Willian gets forward and is dispossessed on the edge of the area by Nicolas Otamendi, it initially looked like a foul and replays confirm it was mistimed, not that the referee, Micheal Oliver, noticed. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:32

32: Leroy Sane darts in-field, he passes to David Silva who dummies the ball which rolls to Bernardo Silva. He tries a first time shot but fires well over. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:34

34: Gary Neville on Sky Sports: "They've been hopeless on the ball, Chelsea."

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:35

35: Eden Hazard has touched the ball just eight times so far this match. Antonio Conte has Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata on the bench.

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:37

39: Pedro crosses from the right but Laporte clears from the front post. Chelsea had very little in the middle to aim for and didn't really trouble the defence. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:40

41: Eden Hazard is cutting a very frustrated and lonely figure up front. Cesc Fabregas tries an audacious pass from the back to Marcos Alonso, ignoring Hazard in the middle, but his ball is poor and intercepted.

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:42

42: City have the ball in the back of the net but the flag is up for offside. From a deep free kick, Sergio Aguero runs off the defence, gets the ball and plays it to Nicolas Otamendi who taps it in but Aguero was offside. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 16:43

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