Match Report: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City lifted the Premier League trophy following a 1-0 win over Chelsea in their final home outing of the campaign on Sunday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s side took to the Etihad Stadium for one final time this campaign, vitalised by the news of Arsenal’s defeat on Saturday confirming their title win.

A 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest for the Gunners was enough to hand City a third straight Premier League crown ahead of Sunday’s kick-off against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.

The champions named a much-changed starting XI with the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias all named on the bench.

However, it did not take long for City to stamp their mark on the visitors from west London as World Cup winner Julian Alvarez slotted home from a Cole Palmer pass to open proceedings after 12 minutes.

Palmer then surged forward again in what was a rare start for the Wythenshawe-born attacker but saw his attempt blocked by the Chelsea backline.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was nearly left embarrassed when Phil Foden attempted a rather cheeky chipped effort from distance that edged just wide of the Spaniard’s post.

The game saw Raheem Sterling return to the Etihad Stadium for the first time in the Premier League since joining Chelsea last summer.

Sterling’s shot was comfortably saved by Stefan Ortega in the City goal though, preserving City’s advantage. Despite some late Chelsea pressure, the hosts went into half-time with a slender lead.

The next 45 minutes began with City being sloppy, allowing their visitors more possession and chances. Guardiola decided to make his first change of the afternoon not long after the restart, bringing off Manuel Akanji for John Stones to provide more legs in midfield.

He was tenacious in his efforts to bag against his former team but another one of Sterling’s shots was not only cleared off the line by Stones but also adjudged to have been offside – before City’s former number seven departed the pitch.

Alvarez believed that he had doubled Manchester City’s advantage but the young striker’s finish was chalked off following a VAR check that ruled handball against Riyad Mahrez in the build-up.

Guardiola decided to lift the crowd’s spirits by bringing on Erling Haaland for the Algerian as City looked to put the game to bed. Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri also entered the field of play for Sergio Gomez and Aymeric Laporte respectively just shortly after.

The two sides played out somewhat of an anti-climax to the game before City kicked off their title celebrations with a pitch invasion by the fans in attendance.

City are next in action on Wednesday night when they travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton and Hove Albion for their penultimate game of the Premier League season.