Watford vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the latest updates as the champions visit Vicarage Road
A potentially pivotal day in the title race, which began in east London before late drama at Wolverhampton, ended with Manchester City fans singing “We are top of the league” into the cold evening air at Vicarage Road. Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham opened the door and City swaggered through with a dominant 3-1 win over Watford, most notable for the joyful brilliance of Bernardo Silva.
If Mohamed Salah is the early frontrunner for the Premier League’s player of the season, Bernardo is his nearest rival making a concerted charge. The Portuguese scored two sublime goals here, the first exhibiting his delicate touch in tight spaces, the second showing off the accuracy of his unerring left foot. City rarely rely on the gift of a single star but sometimes one comes to the fore – think of Kevin De Bruyne in 19/20, or Ilkay Gundogan last season – and this feels unequivocally like the year of Bernardo.
Follow all the latest rection below to Man City’s win at Watford.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
41 mins: Ziyech drifts inside the West Ham box as Chelsea look to hit back but Dawson makes a big block to deny his shot at goal.
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Chelsea (LANZINI 40’)
Lanzini sends Mendy the wrong way with a composed penalty into the side-netting, and West Ham are level!
But that was such a needless penalty for Chelsea to conceded. Jorginho’s backpass was underhit and Mendy’s touch invited pressure from Bowen and Rice. Bowen was able to step across the Chelsea goalkeeper who caught the West Ham forward as he tried to slide in.
PENALTY! West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
38 mins: Nightmare for Mendy as he hauls down Bowen!
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
35 mins: Rudiger is able to carry the ball forward and looks to curl a shot at goal, which Dawson blocks to some murmers of frustration from the West Ham fans. It’s all a bit too easy for Chelsea at the moment. Loftus-Cheek then shifts the ball along to Mount, who found himself in space, but his low drive was gathered by Fabianski.
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
32 mins: Chelsea again threaten down the right and West Ham are forced into two last-ditch clearances to deny Havertz from steering a shot at goal from point-blank range. Alonso then gets down the left wing and a combination of Dawson and Diop clears as Havertz stole in at the front post.
Chelsea have lifted their tempo following Thiago Silva’s breakthrough.
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
29 mins: Off the line! West Ham almost hit back straight from kick-off. The ball sits up nicely for Coufal who drives a volley back across goal. Mendy looked beaten by Silva read the danger and got back to hook it clear!
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Chelsea (SILVA 28’)
Chelsea take the lead through a corner - and David Moyes will be fuming! It’s a poor goal for West Ham to concede. Mount’s cross from the right is directed into the middle of the box and Thiago Silva is able to evade Antonio to guide a downwards header inside the post.
West Ham 0-0 Chelsea
25 mins: Chance! When Chelsea get the ball out to James in space, it usually results in some danger. The wing-back has time to get the ball out of his feet and pick out Havertz in the box, who positioned himself in between Diop and Dawson. It’s a free header for Havertz but it’s straight at Fabianski. Even if it was either side of him, it probably didn’t have enough power behind it to beat the goalkeeper.
West Ham 0-0 Chelsea
22 mins: After sitting back for much of the match so far, West Ham press a loose touch from Jorginho as Bowen, Lanzini and Rice close him down. The Italian slips as he tries to turn away from Rice and gathers the ball in his arms believing he was fouled. The free-kick instead goes against Jorginho, who can’t believe it and is booked for his protest.
West Ham 0-0 Chelsea
19 mins: There’s another brief moment of panic in the Chelsea box as the ball breaks to Dawson from the corner, after the visitors failed to make the first contact on the inswinging delivery. Dawson flicks an effort towards goal but it’s comfortably saved by Mendy.
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