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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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Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:07

52: Usual service continues and Chelsea are offering absolutely nothing. Even Boris Becker is getting on Antonio Conte's case, the manager has Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata on the bench.

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:10

53: Victor Moses gets forward and is behind Oleksander Zinchenko. He drives into the area from the right and blasts high and wide with a skewed shot at the front post. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:12

57: Antonio Rudiger concedes a foul and Micheal Oliver walks towards him with a yellow card and four fingers on the other hand. One can infer that means it's a caution for an accumulation of fouls. Nothing gets past me.

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:16

62: Marcos Alonso plays the ball back to Thibaut Courtois who lumps it forward to...you guessed it: nobody. Still no change from Antonio Conte.

Meanwhile City continue to switch the ball from left to right and back again like they are playing in a leisurely training exercise.  

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:20

65: Chelsea finally get forward and it's four on four at the back. William receives the ball from Eden Hazard and tries to find Pedro at the back post but Laporte intercepts at the front post. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:23

68: The rain is lashing down at the Etihad and Thibaut Courtois almost slips as he receives a back pass. Can we count that as Chelsea's first shot on target?

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:27

70: Pedro intercepts Kyle Walker's pass and Chelsea are away. He tries to slip the ball inside to Eden Hazard but it's intercepted. 

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:28

72: Go on Boris, give it to Conte. Still no striker...

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:30

Jack Watson4 March 2018 17:31

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