Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to take a giant step towards lifting a second Premier League title in three years.
The Blues had star man Eden Hazard to thank for their 20th win in 24 outings, as the Belgian opened the scoring and then went on to add a decisive second later in the first half.
In-between those two strikes, the latter after he had seen his spot-kick attempt kept out, Sergio Aguero temporarily levelled things up in West London, but in the end the hosts proved too strong.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Two of the division's heavyweight sides face off in West London in what should be a real classic, with the title race now looking a little more exciting than it did this time last week thanks to the Blues' shock home loss to Crystal Palace.
Tottenham Hotspur are the side best placed to capitalise should the Blues again slip-up this evening, positioned just seven points behind their London rivals and facing a winnable fixture at Swansea City tonight. That is one of six fixtures in this packed midweek programme, but we are going to focus on City's trip to the capital as they look to drag themselves into the title-winning picture with victory - anything less and surely it is goodnight.
TEAM NEWS!
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Zouma, David Luiz, Cahill; Azpilicueta, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero; Clichy, Stones, Kompany, Fernandinho; Delph, Sane; Silva, De Bruyne, Navas; Aguero
Starting with a look at the visiting team, boss Pep Guardiola has - not for the first time this season - made some interesting selection choices. The big news is that skipper Vincent Kompany is finally brought back into the fold, a good few weeks on from supposedly returning to full fitness, to partner John Stones in the heart of defence. No Jesus Navas at right-back this evening, as Fernandinho this time has the honour of plugging the troublesome gap.
Joining Kompany in the starting lineup is another surprise inclusion in Fabian Delph, who will seemingly take up a spot in the engine room alongside Kevin De Bruyne, unless Guardiola really is feeling confident and is going with a band of four behind attacking midfielders behind leading marksman Sergio Aguero - the scorer of four goals in three meetings with Chelsea, including a hat-trick in this corresponding fixture 12 months ago. Of the 14 scored by the Argentine ace this term, 10 have come away from the Etihad Stadium.
Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling are the two men to make way for the Citizens this evening, with the big news being the introduction to the XI of both Kompany and Delph in the spine of the side. Pablo Zabaleta was expected to replace Navas at right-back tonight but is seemingly only fit enough for a place on the bench, meaning Fernandinho once again being made to show his versatility. De Bruyne will be a vital component as ever, having assisted 13 goals in all comps so far this term - already more than he managed last time out.
In terms of the home side, Antonio Conte has inevitably kept things as similar as possible. The loss of Victor Moses was a big blow last time out, with the Nigerian still suffering from a foot injury picked up prior to the international break, and the decision to play Pedro at wing-back did not work all that well. Kurt Zouma therefore comes in tonight in a back three, with Cesar Azpilicueta shuffling out to the right-hand flank.
David Luiz and Gary Cahill retain their spots alongside Zouma, while Marcos Alonso will as ever have a big part to play down the left-hand side. There was also a big decision for Conte to make in defensive midfield, where he has opted to go with Cesc Fabregas alongside destroyer N'Golo Kante; Nemanja Matic having to settle for a place among the subs. Further forward, Pedro takes up a more familiar role in attack.
Diego Costa, who is one away from bagging his 50th Premier League goal - just the seventh Chelsea player to reach that figure - will spearhead the attack, joined by Pedro on one flank and Eden Hazard on the other. Belgium international Hazard has 11 goals and five assists in the top flight this term, putting him on course to win a second PFA Player of the Year crown in three years, but he will be hoping to improve on a run of one goal in his last six outings.
BENCH WATCH!
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Terry, Ake, Matic, Willian, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Bravo, Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolarov, Toure, Sterling, Nolito
Matic will consider himself unfortunate to drop down to the bench from last time out, but Conte certainly needed to tinker with things slightly to fill the troublesome right wing-back position - occupied tonight by Azpilicueta. Willian will likely play a part from the bench, meanwhile, and there is also the now-regular spot among the subs for Michy Batshuayi. City have plenty of options of their own, namely Sterling and Yaya Toure in midfield.
Kurt Zouma comes into Chelsea's starting lineup in the only change from the shock 2-1 defeat to Palace for his first start since February. Boss Antonio Conte has tinkered with things slightly by pushing Pedro slightly forward and Cesar Azpilicueta on the flank, but he has kept faith with his 3-4-3 formation. Pep Guardiola makes two alterations to his Manchester City side, meanwhile, bringing in Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph for rare starts.
For all the fallout from Chelsea's defeat to Palace here four days ago, it is worth remembering that - as Conte has attempted to point out pre-match - they remain seven points in front - a more-than-healthy advantage at this stage in the season. The lead at the top has only been bigger at this point in the season on a handful of occasions, in fact, so it is fair to say that Blues supporters will not be growing all that concerned just yet.
Defeat tonight would really make things interested, though, particularly if Tottenham can get the job done against relegation-threatened Swansea. We could end the evening with Chelsea just four points ahead of Spurs and seven in front of Liverpool, while City will also be in the hunt a point further back. A draw would not be the worst result in the world, as long as they make up for it at Bournemouth at the weekend, but victory and a step closer to the title is their target.
Since reverting formation at the tail end of September, the Blues have won 19, lost two and drawn two of their Premier League outings, though they certainly look more beatable now compared to a couple of months back when they were in the midst of equalling the record for most wins on the bounces. Furthermore, Conte's men have dropped points in three of their last seven matches, including to Palace and Burnley, so if they are going to falter now is the time to capitalise.
Chelsea face both Manchester clubs in the space of three games, with that meeting against Bournemouth in-between, so we really could have a title race on our hands come the end of the month. All that said, the Blues still look good value to get back on track and pick up a second league crown in the space of three years, and a first under the watch of impressive head coach Conte, while also remaining on track in the FA Cup. With less than six weeks of the season left to play, they are still dreaming of a domestic double.
DID YOU KNOW? You have to go back to November 2011 to find the last time Chelsea last lost back-to-back home league games, when losing to Arsenal and Liverpool in quick succession, which could be the case this evening on the back of their surprise loss to Palace four days ago. Antonio Conte has not lost successive home games as a coach since November 2009, meanwhile, when Atalanta were beaten by Roma and Juventus in Serie A.
Chelsea have kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 matches, a record that they really need to improve on if they are to get back to brushing aside teams with ease. There was a point earlier in the campaign when you just could not see them losing, even when just the one goal up, but Palace and Burnley have proved in recent weeks that they can indeed be shot down. Will City tonight join the short list of teams to take points off the Blues?
That run of two clean sheets in 11 follows on from 10 in their previous 12, while at the other end of the pitch they have managed to score in 24 of their 25 home Premier League games since Jose Mourinho departed in December 2015. The exception? Almost 12 months ago to the day when Man City visited, earning a 3-0 win here to compound what had been a terrible season for the Blues on the whole. You will get pretty good odds on a similar outcome this evening, with Chelsea a much tougher proposition these days.
All five of Chelsea's defeats this season, in both league and cup, have come in London. Opponents Manchester City have fared well on their trips to the capital, meanwhile, including last time out when claiming a respectable 2-2 draw with top-four rivals Arsenal. The Blues may have seen the gap at the top narrow from 10 points to seven this week, but they still remain the overwhelming favourites to lift a second title in three years.
Man City begin the night occupying the fourth and final Champions League spot, which you suspect Guardiola would probably take right about now if offered to him. The Citizens are in the midst of their best unbeaten run since the Catalan coach took charge, going eight without defeat in the Premier League, though exactly half of those matches have ended all square - including each of the last three, either side of the international break.
The draws with fellow heavyweights Liverpool and Arsenal can certainly not be considered bad results, as such, yet it proved to be a case of City failing to take their chances and holding on in both games - a familiar tale this term. That also proved to be the case in the reverse fixture with Chelsea, when somehow failing to go two goals up - De Bruyne in particular guilty of missing a superb chance - and then falling to an eventual 3-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium.
City were also held by Stoke during this current unbeaten run at a time when they were really beginning to build up momentum, winning each of their last four prior to that disappointing home stalemate. They now sit 11 off the top and are essentially battling to remain in the top four, finding themselves four points ahead of city neighbours Man United and seven in front of Arsenal, who have one game in hand still left to play.
It is difficult to say what exactly constitutes as a successful season in Guardiola's first campaign in English football, but finishing in the top four - their minimum target in the league - and winning the FA Cup would certainly be a decent way to introduce himself. The Catalan has made no secret of his desire to overhaul the squad in the summer, potentially saying goodbye to six of his out-of-contracts stars, and that is when this project can truly start to be analysed from the outside.
Six of City's last seven matches are against teams ranked 10th or lower in the division, but they do face a potentially pivotal clash against Man United in the other of those remaining fixtures on April 27. The Citizens could draw four games in a row tonight for the first time since 2009, while boss Guardiola has not lost two league games against the same opponent in a single career during his coaching career to date.
Defeat tonight will also make it the first tie Guardiola has suffered six league losses in a single campaign, having enjoyed far more league success with previous clubs Bayern Munich and Barcelona than he is experiencing right now. The gap on Chelsea could well stand at eight points with eight to play come full time, compared to a deficit of eight on Man United with six to go when famously winning the title in 2012.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Manchester City won 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last April to claim their biggest away win at Chelsea since 1978, when winning 4-1 on that occasion through a Ron Futcher hat-trick. That was just their second triumph in 19 league and cup games in this part of West London, though, losing 12 of those previous matches heading into tonight's game. However, the Blues have won just five of the last 15 overall, following a previous run of eight wins in a row between 2005 and 2009.
With kickoff at Stamford Bridge now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Antonio Conte: "It's normal that with 27 points available anything can happen in the league, but we are in a really good position. We haven't had many days to prepare for this game but it's the same for Man City. It won't be easy because they are a very good team."
Pep Guardiola: "They play less games, they have more time to prepare. But Chelsea will be in Europe next year and they have the quality to compete. Chelsea deserve to be where they are, they have won a lot of games and deserve their position."
Conte rightly pointing on that his side are in a "really good position" at the top of the table, albeit having seen their lead slashed slightly over the past month or so. Tottenham fans will be watching events in West London closely tonight, though Spurs cannot afford to slip-up at Swansea if they are to keep the pressure alive. A pivotal game for the Blues on home soil tonight; a chance to see once again exactly what they are made of.
Both teams are now making their way out on to the field of play, with kickoff at Stamford Bridge just a couple of minutes away. The two teams played out a feisty affair in the reverse fixture, with Chelsea coming from behind to win that one 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium - a game now best remembered for the red cards picked up by Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho at the end. Similar drama tonight and we are in for a thriller!
KICKOFF! We are officially under way in West London! Hazard looking to pick out Azpilicueta early on with a floated pass, but he puts a little too much on it and the Blues are denied what would have been a dream start.
Updates from all of the evening's other Premier League results will be provided throughout, and there is news of an early goal to bring you from the Liberty Stadium. Tottenham, seven points behind the blues at kickoff, trail Swansea just 10 minutes in.
Good inroads made by Hazard down the left-hand side, before spotting Costa in a bit of space on the edge of the box. The Spaniard had room but not enough to properly set himself, sending his shot well over the target in the end.
Pedro twice lets down his teammates with some sloppy passing, the second straight to an opponent. Chelsea started just about the better side in these opening seven minutes or so, with visitors City yet to truly find their groove.
An attempted through-ball for De Bruyne is weak, and Fabregas does enough in his shield position in front of the back four to see it through. Just the one off-target Costa shot between the sides so far in a tight start to the match.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (EDEN HAZARD)
A shocker from Caballero, even accounting for a slight deflection off Kompany. Hazard was picked out inside the box and swept the ball on target, with the shot taking a nick off the returning skipper and slipping through the keeper's reach.
Fourteen times Chelsea have opened the scoring in a Premier League game this season and 10 times they have gone on to win. The only defeat they have suffered in that run came just four days ago, so hope not yet lost for the Citizens.
One shot on target for Chelsea and one goal - as efficient as you can get! Man City now seeing more of the ball since going behind, as midfielder Delph tries his luck from range but only succeeds in picking out the stands.
The Blues sitting back perhaps a little too much since going ahead, with City now dominating possession and slowly looking to work the ball forward. The visitors still yet to create a chance of any note thus far, though.
SHOT! First real attempt from a City player, as Fernandinho drives into some space and lets leash from 25 yards out. Right down the middle in the end, however, and Courtois was able to routinely keep it out.
SAVE! City starting to click into gear now, creating their first real chance of the match. Aguero wriggles his way through and looks to pick out the bottom corner with three men around him, but Courtois got down to his right to collect.
CLOSE! The visitors with a little bit of fortune, as Fabregas gets on the end of Hazard's pull-back and attempts to pick out the bottom corner. The ball took a big deflection off Clichy and dropped on to the roof of the net.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (SERGIO AGUERO)
The second goalkeeping error of the night - this one even worse than Caballero's beforehand. Courtois clears the ball with a lofted pass... right in the path of opposition midfielder Silva! The Spaniard took on the shot from a slight angle and to compound Courtois's misery he could only parry into the path of Aguero, who was never going to miss from five yards out.
SAVE! Relentless stuff at Stamford Bridge. Silva with an inch-perfect through-ball for Sane to race on to, but after getting to it first he failed to loft it over Courtois who has just about made amends for that previous howler.
Fair to say that City have been the better team since Hazard's opener. Really good response from the visitors, who are in the ascendancy and looking for that second goal of the evening after being given a boost by Aguero's leveller.
PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Big moment in the match now as Pedro quickly shifts the ball onto his right and is tripped in the area by Fernandinho. Simple play from the Blues, but Mike Dean correctly points to the penalty spot.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY (EDEN HAZARD)
Hazard's poor penalty is kept out by Caballero down to his left, but he is quickly on the rebound and just about converts for his second of the night. Against the run of play, the Blues now have their one-goal advantage back.
City quickly up the other end in this breathless first half. Aguero takes on the shot from the edge of the box, seeing it take a slightly deflection that helps it past the post. That Hazard goal takes him up to 13 for the season, incidentally.
De Bruyne with a cross from the right that looked to be dipping towards the back-post area, if not for Courtois' intervention to help it behind for another City corner. The Citizens looking very bright when getting forward.
A few comings together in the space of a minute or so - Fabregas on Silva, Luiz on Aguero and Clichy on Hazard. Only the latter of them leads to a free kick, giving the hosts a chance to get their breath back.
City playing more like the home team in this first half, with Chelsea happy to make the most of any counter-attacking opportunities when they arise. Half time just a minute or so away now, which is a shame because this is gripping.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Referee Mike Dean brings a lively first half to a close; Chelsea going into the break sitting on a one-goal lead. Sergio Aguero cancelled out Eden Hazard's 12th-of-the-season opener a little over midway through, but it did not take much longer for the Belgium international to add his second of the night after initially seeing his penalty kept out.
The Blues made just the one change from their surprise home defeat to Crystal Palace here at the weekend, bringing in Kurt Zouma at the back and pushing Cesar Azpilicueta into a wing-back role, while City brought in Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph. Chelsea were ahead from their first real attempt of the evening as Eden Hazard swept home from an Azpilicueta cut back, getting the better of a wrong-footed Wilfredo Caballero due to a slight nick off Kompany.
City grew into the game far more from that point on and were playing more like the home side at times, creating their first chance a quarter of the way through when Sergio Aguero wiggled through but was kept out by Thibaut Courtois in a routine manner. Fernandinho and Cesc Fabregas came close to finding the net for their respective sides, with the latter's deflected shot taking a heavy deflection off ex-teammate Gael Clichy and dropping on to the roof of the net.
The Citizens did not have to wait too much longer to level things up thanks to a howler from Courtois, who cleared the ball straight to David Silva and could only parry the eventual shot from the Spaniard into the path of Aguero six yards out. Leroy Sane used his pace to get on the end of an inch-perfect ball from Silva moments later, but Courtois made amends for his earlier error by keeping out the winger's delicate chip.
At a time when City were pressing for their second of the night, some quick footwork from Pedro in the area drew a foul from Fernandinho and referee Mike Dean rightly pointed to the spot. Hazard was initially denied from the spot by Caballero down to his left but was on the rebound to tuck home his 13th of the season. In 10 of the 14 matches Chelsea have taken the lead this season they have gone on to win, with the only loss in that sequence coming here against Palace on Saturday. Still plenty to play for, though - here is a reminder of the subs.
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Terry, Ake, Matic, Willian, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Bravo, Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolarov, Toure, Sterling, Nolito
RESTART! We are back up and running at Stamford Bridge, where there is news of a half-time change. Nemanja Matic is on for Kurt Zouma, with Pedro seemingly slotting in at right wing-back and Azpilicueta shuffling more central.
OFF THE BAR! Bright start to the second half for City, who were so nearly level for a second time. Kompany peeled off Matic at the back post and saw his looping header - probably a cross - drop on to the crossbar.
Another decent delivery into the box from Silva, but a Chelsea player got to it first and cleared away. Delph hooked it over for Fernandinho, who awkwardly volleyed over from all of six yards out. Half a chance, that!
YELLOW CARD! Clichy is cautioned by referee Mike Dean for a heavy and mistimed challenge on Hazard out wide. No way through from the subsequent free kick into the area as City stand strong and clear their lines.
Solid defending from Cahill to thwart Aguero, who looked like he was about to accelerate in behind. Tottenham still behind in South Wales, while Liverpool are drawing with Bournemouth at Anfield. Another big night at the top end of the division.
Chelsea have come no closer to finding a third goal, instead focusing more on defending. That said, the Citizens have not truly tested Courtois since Aguero temporarily levelled things up 26 minutes into the contest.
Approaching the hour mark in West London - usually the time when both managers will be thinking about making a change or two. Conte has already tinkered once, remember, bringing on Matic for Zouma at the midway point.
A rare error from Kante, if we can call it that, as he illegally halts the run of Silva when he did not look to be going anywhere fast. De Bruyne's free kick was low but Sane could not quite bring it under control.
Guardiola bemused by Mike Dean's decision to give a free kick in Chelsea's favour. The Catalan coach can see the funny side of things on the sidelines, but Conte comes across and tells him to quieten down - one to keep an eye on!
Liverpool have come from behind to lead Bournemouth at Anfield, while Swansea still lead Tottenham heading into the final stages in South Wales. At Stamford Bridge were are still awaiting the first real chance of a quieter second half.
CHANCE! Best opening of the second half by quite some distance, as Stones meets a corner into the box. The centre-back sent the header right down the middle where Courtois was waiting - either side and it's 2-2.
SHOT! Kompany stays up and tries to get on the end of a floated ball into the area, but Courtois bravely commands his box and collects. Up the other end Pedro's curler is heading for the bottom corner but Caballero was easily across.
Twenty minutes of the match left and we are awaiting Guardiola's first alteration. Sterling and Toure the obvious choices to come on for differing reasons, with the former in particular a good option against a tiring Blues defence.
Silva slides the ball across for Aguero, but Cahill stands strong and blocks it aside - top defending! From the corner Kompany is beaten to the ball at the front post, before conceding a free kick for a foul on Hazard.
Chelsea win themselves a free kick within shooting range. Only one real candidate to take it on, but Luiz failed to get the ball over the wall and City are able to regroup and attack. Been a very quiet second half compared to the first.
CHANCE! First chance Chelsea have created since going 2-1 ahead - and what a chance it was! Pedro and Fabregas linked up but the former's return pass was overhit, only for Hazard to get on the end of it just inside the area unmarked, though he failed to keep the shot on target.
YELLOW CARD! Fabian Delph is the second City player to enter the referee's book. Big update to bring you from the Liberty Stadium, where Spurs have scored two goals in the closing stages to take a 2-1 lead!
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Guardiola at long lost rolls the dice by bringing on speedy wideman Raheem Sterling. Kevin De Bruyne is the man to make way, with 10 minutes left for Man City to find a response in West London.
Not so much half a chance for Aguero but more a quarter of one. The striker got on the end of the corner from a very tight angle but could not find the target, or indeed a teammate, when attempting to blast towards goal.
CHELSEA SUB! Conte makes his second change of the evening, bringing on Willian for Fabregas. Spurs now 3-1 up with just seconds to go against Swansea, so important that the Blues see through these closing moments.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Nolito is now on for Sane as Guardiola goes all out for a late goal. Prior to that, Kompany was booked for a rash challenge on countryman Hazard close to the sidelines, letting frustration get the better of him.
Spurs have won at Swansea but will remain seven points adrift of Chelsea as things stand. A win for Arsenal and possibly Liverpool, too, so a disappointing evening for City whose eight-game unbeaten run is looking like coming to an end.
SAVE! Hazard leaves the field to a standing ovation following his two-goal showing in the first half - the difference between the sides at this late stage. Aguero with a chance to equalise but his half-volley is stopped by Courtois.
CHANCE! City saving their best till last, it seems! Moments after Aguero was denied from a half volley - what a pass from Nolito, by the way - Stones somehow failed to convert when once again picked out from a corner. Connection was all wrong and the ball ended over the bar.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY
The full-time whistle sounds at Stamford Bridge, meaning that Chelsea retain their seven-point lead at the advantage. This is a victory that has a title-winning feel to it, coming against arguably their toughest remaining opponents with only Manchester United among the big boys left to take on. Manchester City performed well in the first half but created less in the second and are now battling for fourth.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Stamford Bridge. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from this and a selection of other Premier League matches can be found elsewhere on the site in the coming hour. Thanks for joining!
