Good afternoon everyone. Based on the scoreline at the Amex Stadium with one minute to play, just four teams are battling for the honour of being the best of the rest behind Manchester City and for three spots in the top four. But if City win today, there will be five points and daylight between Chelsea and fourth-placed Spurs. Antonio Conte's Blues, though, are the last team to win at the Etihad.

Premier League / Matchday 29

Etihad Stadium / 04.03.2018

Manchester City

Completed

Chelsea

B. Silva(46')

Live

Live Updates

ByDan Kilpatrick

Updated 04/03/2018 at 17:54 GMT

16'

First ball for Hazard to chase is easily dealt with by Ederson, who is snappy off his line as usual. A short spell of Chelsea possession follows. It almost feels strange to see the other side of pitch.

16.16

10'

Moses very nearly threatens to take the ball over the halfway line but thinks better of it, and cuts back.

City are totally dominating possession and Aguero, on 199 City goals, get a first sniff at goal after Fabregas plays his defenders into trouble.

Chelsea are, predictably, being forced to go high and long when they do get the ball but that doesn't suit Eden Hazard one bit.

Perhaps sensing this, Willian tries to dribble out and is felled by Zinchenko.

16.06

David Silva, who has won his last 20 PL appearances, is already proving influential. The shaven-headed maestro darts around Fabregas but his cross is claimed by Courtois. City on top in the early stages.

The first Kevin de Bruyne through ball of the afternoon nearly finds its way through to Aguero but Azpilicueta is alive to the danger, and Chelsea clear the resulting corner.

PEEEEEP PEEEEEP!

Right, we're underway at the Etihad after City briefly paraded the Carabao Cup before kickoff. Attention now on much bigger prizes.

15.57

Here come the players after plenty of jolly pre-match pleasantries and handshakes. City have won 13 straight league home games since Everton earned a point here back in August.

But Chelsea have the advantage of freshness after City beat Arsenal 3-0 in London on Wednesday.

15.55

Conte used his pre-match interview to pay tribute to the late Davide Astori, below, but he spoke about City in deferential terms at his pre-match press conference.

'In this moment they seem unstoppable,' he said.

'Sometimes it's very difficult to find a weakness in this team. Manchester City has the possibility to spend a lot of money. When you link this situation, good manager, much money to spend in the transfer market, the same ambition, this is the final result.'

15.49

Guardiola not underestimating Chelsea, despite their league position: 'My players know it.

'They know how good Chelsea are. Hazard plays sometimes as a striker, sometimes as a winger. All their front players are so, so dangerous. Cesc can see balls. They are the current champions. They deserve all the credit.'

15.42

Looking at that Chelsea XI, you do wonder if Conte's complaints about recruitment and the strength of his squad are somewhat justified. Both his centre-forward signings are on the bench, while it'll be Fabregas and Drinkwater attempting to contain that City midfield.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has Yaya Toure, Gabriel Jesus, Vincent Kompany and John Stones among his substitutes.

15.38

Another reminder today that football is, in fact, not more important than life and death after the tragic passing of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, aged 31. Conte has paid tribute to him ahead of the match.

15.23

Not what Chelsea needed against that obscene City midfield.

15.23

Teams:

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

Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Kompany, Stones, Toure, Foden, Gabriel Jesus.

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Fabregas, Drinkwater, Alonso; Willian, Hazard, Pedro.

Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Emerson, Chalobah, Giroud, Morata.

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