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Kirsty Wigglesworth
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Chelsea v Man City, Premier League

Chelsea faced Man City in a crucial game at the top of the Premier League.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick of is at 8pm.

The teams are out, and Vincent Kompany starts for Man City…

Chelsea: Courtois; Zouma, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Azpilicueta, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard.

Subs: Begovic, Ake, Terry, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Batshuayi.

Man City: Caballero, Clichy, Stones, Kompany (c), Fernandinho, Delph, Sane, Silva, De Bruyne, Navas, Aguero.

Subs: Bravo, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Fernando, Toure, Sterling, Nolito

There’s already been a significant goal elsewhere tonight…

We’re underway…

John Stones has to be alert to clear an Azpilicueta cross.

It’s been a lively start to this game.

Pedro breaks on the counter before his pass lets him down and City get the ball back.

Chelsea have been the better side in the early stages.

CHELSEA 1-0 MAN CITY (HAZARD 10)

Azpilicueta’s cross finds Hazard. The latter’s first-time shot takes a deflection off Kompany before Caballero can only palm it into the net.

The goalkeeper should have done better there.

Fernandinho gets an important touch on the ball to stop a Hazard-bound through pass.

Chelsea continue to look the brighter of the two sides.

As I type though, Aguero finds space on the edge of the box, but his shot is comfortably saved by Courtois.

Costa finds Fabregas just inside the box, but his cross is deflected narrowly over the bar.

Chelsea have played with the confidence of champions-in-waiting in these early stages.

CHELSEA 1-1 MAN CITY (AGUERO 25)

1-1 and it’s poor from Thibaut Courtois. The goalkeeper’s kick goes straight to David Silva.

The Spaniard’s shot is saved, but Aguero is on hand to slot home the rebound.

Big chance for City!

Fernandinho plays through Sane, who attempts to clip the ball over Courtois, but the Belgian does enough to stop the shot going in, as he saves before the rebound deflects off the German attacker and goes out of play.

Chelsea look on the ropes all of a sudden.

De Bruyne’s cross is deflected out for a corner.

PENALTY TO CHELSEA!

CHELSEA 2-1 MAN CITY (HAZARD 35)

Pedro outfoxes Fernandinho, who brings him down in the box.

Hazard’s subsequent penalty is saved, but he scores on the rebound.

Chelsea v Manchester City - Premier League - Stamford Bridge Chelsea's Eden Hazard (left) and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne speak during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

It’s been calm enough since the Hazard goal in what has been a fairly evenly fought first half.

Chelsea are playing in quite a cagey fashion at times, allowing City to have the ball and waiting for an opportunity to counter-attack.

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 MAN CITY

So half-time and it’s been a pretty entertaining first half.

There hasn’t been much between the sides and all the goals came from errors.

Both goalkeepers could have done better for the first two goals, while Fernandinho’s tackle on Pedro for the penalty was needless.

Moreover, with Spurs losing and Liverpool being held, it’s been an excellent night so far for Chelsea.

The second half is underway…

Matic has replaced Zouma at half-time.

Azpilicueta is now part of the back three as a result.

Delph hooks a cleared free kick back into the box and Fernandinho blasts his finish well over.

City have started this second half positively.

Here are tonight’s latest scores…

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You can keep track of every game via our score centre.

Claudio Ranieri is among those in attendance tonight…

Chelsea v Manchester City - Premier League - Stamford Bridge Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Silva wins a free kick after going down following a challenge from Matic.

The visitors are finding it very hard to break down Chelsea, who are well-organised as ever.

As Man City continue to struggle to create chances, there have been developments elsewhere.

Liverpool have gone 2-1 up against Bournemouth, while Arsenal are now beating West Ham 2-0. Still 1-0 to Swansea against Tottenham with 10 minutes to play.

Man City are really struggling for creativity right now.

They’ve barely created a chance of note since the second Chelsea goal.

Not much has happened at Stamford Bridge, but there’s been late drama at the Liberty Stadium.

Alli and Son have put Spurs ahead.

Sterling is coming on for City, as they desperately search for an equaliser, or at least some attacking threat.

This has been a masterful second-half display from a defensive perspective by Antonio Conte’s men.

The title race isn’t over yet.

Eriksen has made it 3-1 to Tottenham. What a comeback!

Still no sign of a City opening.

Nolito has replaced Sane for the visitors, while Willian is on in place of Fabregas for the hosts.

It’s ended Swansea 1-3 Tottenham by the way.

Spurs have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Late drama at Anfield as well, as Bournemouth’s Joshua King makes it 2-2.

Meanwhile, Hazard — the official man of the match — has just been replaced by Loftus Cheek.

Finally, two quick-fire chances for City.

First, Aguero’s close-range shot is saved by Courtois, before Stones fails to steer the ball home as it falls to him from a corner.

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 MAN CITY

Right, that’s all from me for now — thanks for reading and commenting.

We’ll have more reaction to follow and our report for the game can be read here.

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