Manchester City picked up the point they needed to essentially secure a top-four finish in the Premier League thanks to a 1-1 draw against Swansea City.
The Citizens, who end the campaign with a five-game winless run in all competitions, made an early breakthrough when Kelechi Iheanacho bagged his eighth of the season from close range.
A deflected Andre Ayew free kick levelled the scores at the end of the first half, with neither side really doing enough to find a winner after the restart.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Swansea City and Manchester City at the Liberty Stadium. It is the final day of this intriguing top-flight campaign, but all that remains up for grabs in the higher reaches of the division is a place in the top four - and indeed Champions League football next season.
Three teams are left to battle it out for that last remaining European berth - City, Manchester United and West Ham United - with the Citizens strong favourites to get the job done in South Wales over the coming hours. Anything other than defeat will likely be enough for Manuel Pellegrini to bow out on a high of sorts, while the Swans themselves will be eyeing up a win of their own to secure an unlikely top-half finish.
There is plenty to get through between now and kickoff at 3pm, including all the different possible permutations across the afternoon, but let us get straight into things by checking out some confirmed team news from the Liberty Stadium.
TEAM NEWS!
SWANSEA CITY XI: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Fernandez, Amat, Kingsley, Britton, Cork, Fer, Routledge, Montero, Ayew
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Navas, De Bruyne, Iheanacho, Aguero
Starting with the home side, then, and manager Francesco Guidolin has made four changes to his starting lineup for this final game of the season. The Swans are without their Euro 2016-bound quarter of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams and Lukasz Fabianski, with Kristoffer Nordfeldt one of those to profit from the absence of those key men. The Swedish keeper, signed from Heerenveen, is handed his first league start for the club nearly a year on from joining.
Jefferson Montero's future will supposedly lie away from the Liberty Stadium next season if recent reports are to be believed, but he is given a chance to impress Guidolin one last time this afternoon after being handed a starting berth out wide. The Ecuadorian was a doubt for today's match, although he has clearly overcome a similar hamstring issue that has ruled Alberto Paloschi out of the side.
Ki Sung-yueng is the other notable absentee, having been called up for military service. It is certainly not the Swans' strongest starting lineup, then, and one that boasts a debutant Premier League keeper in Nordfeldt, but the Welsh outfit tore West Ham apart at times last weekend with a similar side. Plenty of players still with a point to prove, too, including wideman Montero, so we could see an up-for-it City XI this afternoon.
In terms of the visitors, Pellegrini has gone with an unchanged starting lineup from last week's 2-2 draw with Arsenal. The Citizens are still without Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta - the latter of whom will undergo ankle surgery in order to rectify his injury concerns - but Samir Nasri and Aleksandar Kolarov are both fit enough for a place on the bench despite their own respective recent issues.
That means Sergio Aguero and Kelechi Iheanacho will continue their blossoming partnership up top, with the latter a real breakthrough talent of this 2015-16 Premier League season. Aguero may have missed out on personal honours once again this campaign, meanwhile, but he can end the term on a real high if he finds the net after scoring six in a row for the first time in his English top-flight career. Elsewhere, Wilfried Bony has to settle for a spot among the back-ups against his former side, but he has two in two against the Swans since leaving.
BENCH WATCH!
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Vickers, Naughton, Fulton, Gorre, Barrow, Emnes, Gomis
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Sterling, Kolarov, Demichelis, Nasri, Toure, Bony
Many are expecting an overhaul of sorts when the Pep Guardiola tenure officially gets underway this summer, so just how many of these Man City squad players will be making their last appearance for the club today? Yaya Toure, Bony and Martin Demichelis looks certain to be on the lookout for a new team, but for Raheem Sterling he will likely have a crucial role to play under the incoming Spaniard. It has not been the greatest of seasons for the high-profile signing from Liverpool, and he will no doubt be keen to push on in his second season at the Etihad Stadium.
It has been another fine season for Sergio Aguero in front of goal, and the Argentine could still finish as the division's top scorer if things pan out his way this afternoon. Jamie Vardy sits above Aguero courtesy of a better assists tally, but only Harry Kane has outscored him with 25 goals compared to 24.
Plenty of the focus heading into this game is of course on Man City, as they aim to secure that fourth and final Champions League berth. Swansea will be looking to end their campaign on a high as well, though, knowing that victory - coupled with defeat for Stoke City at home to West Ham United - will see them finish the term in the top half of the table. That is some turnaround considering the Swans were backed for relegation just a few months back, with an upturn in fortunes under their Italian boss making fears of a return to the second tier a thing of the past.
The Swans have won two games on the bounce, seeing off Liverpool 3-1 and West Ham 4-1 in what is a real strong end to their season. Safety has been assured for a while now, albeit only being officially confirmed earlier this month, but there is no denying that the Welsh outfit had a real scare following a terrible second third to the campaign. Defeat after defeat left the club looking over their shoulder, yet a couple of wins on the bounce in early March proved enough to lift them out of harm's reach and they now sit comfortably in 11th place.
That led to Guidolin being offered a new deal this week, with the Italian being favoured over some more high-profile options. Six wins from the last 10 has guided Swansea from relegation fodder into a mid-table side once again, although it is worth also mentioning those poor recent defeats away at Leicester City and Newcastle United. The Swans did end their away-day hoodoo last time out at Upton Park, however, while also scoring more than twice in a single game for just the second time this season - six days after breaking that particular duck at home to Liverpool.
DID YOU KNOW? Swansea City have won their last four games at the Liberty Stadium - the first time they have managed to do so in their Premier League history. Norwich City were first to fall, before the Swans picked up impressive wins over Chelsea and Liverpool while also seeing off basement boys Aston Villa. Should Man City be next, the race for the top four could have one final dramatic twist on the last day.
Swansea have only shipped three goals in their last seven games here, too, so it will certainly not be an easy task for the visitors if they are to break down this stubborn backline - albeit minus talismanic skipper Ashley Williams. It may not have been the best of seasons for the Welsh club, then, but a positive end to the term - potentially ending with a top-half finish - provides plenty of positives looking ahead. Guidolin said this week that simply surviving next season will be the initial target, but the Swans are certainly capable of challenging for a Europa League berth with a few additions.
Guidolin's charges will however come up against a determined Man City side this afternoon; a side still with work to do if they are to compete in the Champions League next season - the very minimum target expected of a club of the Citizens' stature. It really would be remarkable if Guardiola's era at the Etihad Stadium was to begin with a Europa League tie, but the Citizens are very much the favourites to finish fourth ahead of rivals Man United and an impressive West Ham outfit.
As things stand, City are three points ahead of West Ham with a +15 superior goal difference, so the Hammers are highly unlikely to pull off the unthinkable. Man United very much provide the bigger threat, sitting just two points behind the Citizens but with a far inferior goal difference. It means that a point for City will almost certainly be enough, but they will of course be after all three points to make certain and not have to rely on results elsewhere.
It is worth mentioning that the gap in third-place Arsenal is only actually three points and, with City boasting a better goal difference, the Citizens could well end the day sitting a place above their current standing. The Gunners play host to a terrible Villa side, though, so surely any sort of slip-up at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon is asking too much. It has been a real disappointing campaign on the whole, although it could get a whole lot worse should results go against City over the coming hours.
Manuel Pellegrini, known affectionately by Manchester City supporters as The Charming Man, will bow out of the club with three trophies to his name. The Chilean secured a League Cup and Premier League double in his first campaign at the Etihad Stadium, but only one other piece of silverware - the League Cup again earlier this season - has followed in the two years since. It is difficult to argue this being seen as an overwhelmingly successful stint, and incoming boss Pep Guardiola will be required to double that title tally.
City have not won any of their last four games in all competitions - a run including a narrow defeat on aggregate to 10-time European champions Real Madrid. Had the Citizens progressed through in that tie, this season may have been reflected on in a very different light, but the fact that they crashed out with a whimper will see this go down as one to forget on the whole. A 2-2 draw with Arsenal last time out means City will have to do things the hard way, with Man United ready to pounce on any final-day slip up.
Pellegrini's men also slipped to a 4-2 defeat in their last away outing at Southampton, with another draw and a defeat coming in their last four league outings overall. Looking further back, it is just five wins in 13 - losing five of those outings - meaning Guardiola will need to work his magic from the off upon his summer arrival. Pellegrini himself has claimed that a top-four finish is "deserved", but recent results in particular suggest otherwise.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Swansea City have won only one of the previous nine Premier League meetings between these two sides, coming in a 1-0 triumph in March 2012. Manchester City have actually won nine of their last 11 encounters overall, including the reverse fixture which finished 2-1 at Christmas time. Bafetimbi Gomis, on the bench today, looked to have rescued a late point at the Etihad Stadium until Kelechi Iheanacho popped up in the closing seconds.
With kickoff now a little over 10 minutes away, let us turn attention towards some pre-match talk from both camps heading into this big Premier League showdown at the Liberty Stadium.
Francesco Guidolin: "Next season 40 points is the priority and, if it's possible, to play well. It's important not to lose this, or to lose our identity. This season could be a lesson for the future because for Swansea in the last 10 years, every year has been up, up, up. In football it's not always easy to go up. It's important to have a season that's a little bit complicated to understand and learn new things."
Manuel Pellegrini: "During the three seasons, the fans always tell me that they enjoy our games. It's about a style, and for me it's important to be the highest-scoring team for three seasons, to be always in the Champions League and to win three titles. I have enjoyed it over the last three years. Not just the titles I won. It is the best league of the world. The fans, the stadiums are full capacity. It is a very competitive league."
Pellegrini had to offer a defence of his time in charge of City during his final press conference as manager earlier this week. The Chilean should be applauded for the way he has handled the whole Guardiola situation over the past few months, but you have to wonder whether he would have been sacked this summer even if the Spaniard was not available. Three titles in three years is the bare minimum, you feel, with City now expected to be challenging for the Premier League crown year after year.
While Pellegrini will not be around in the Premier League next season - not as Man City manager, at least - Swans boss Guidolin will indeed be in charge at the Liberty Stadium come August. It is a decision that has caused a mixed reaction, but the Italian has done exactly what was asked of him in not only keeping the club in the top flight but also potentially securing a top-half finish - some turnaround from just a few months ago when relegation was a real possibility.
PREDICTION! Time to offer a prediction for today's match, which I can only see going one way. Swansea are far from their strongest this afternoon due to the absence of five key men and, while they did put in a great shift eight days ago at West Ham, I think City will be fired up in South Wales. Pellegrini's final farewell and top four still being on the line should see the Citizens pick up the win they require. 1-3.
Both sets of players have now made their way into the tunnel area at the Liberty Stadium, with kickoff now around five minutes away. An early goal for City will do nicely for their travelling army of supporters, particularly with Man United being handed a nice final-day fixture at home to Bournemouth. Updates from that game throughout the afternoon, but for now all focus is on events in South Wales.
Some news to bring you from Old Trafford, where kickoff has been delayed by 45 minutes. That could potentially lead to a real dramatic conclusion to this final day of the Premier League season, but a point will do for City thanks to their superior goal difference.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Liberty Stadium, where Swansea have had a small penalty appeal turned down inside the opening minute or so. A cross from the right was blocked by Fernando, but it appeared to hit the top of his shoulder rather than his arm.
De Bruyne sends in a real dangerous cross from the right-hand side, which Nordfeldt - making his Premier League debut today, remember - just about gets to before Iheanacho. A real bright start to this match in the South Wales sunshine, with both sides mounting early attacks.
GOAL! SWANSEA CITY 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (KELECHI IHEANACHO)
Real confusion at the Liberty Stadium, but the bottom line is that Man City lead 1-0. De Bruyne's cut-back was met by Aguero, whose shot was kept out before Iheanacho tapped home from just a few yards out. The players celebrated before the linesman appeared to put his flag up, but referee Mike Dean was happy to let the goal stand. Replays show that it was the correct call from the man in the middle.
So the Citizens well on their way to sealing a top-four finish, but there is some significant breaking news from elsewhere in the Premier League. Manchester United's meeting with Bournemouth has been called off due to a suspicious package being found. Kickoff was initially delayed by 45 minutes, but it has now been postponed for good.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Incredible! Swansea now see a goal ruled out, but unlike their opponents Mike Dean is not going to go back on his decision this time. Montero bundled the ball home at the back post, although a shove on Sagna - which looked very harsh - proved costly for the winger.
Half a chance for Aguero, who managed to get in behind the Swans' backline only to smash the ball into the side-netting. We really should be all square, with that Montero shove on Sagna in the build-up to the Swansea disallowed goal looking very minimal. Superb game so far, and we are only 12 minutes in!
Nice link-up play between Montero and Ayew, but the latter was just about offside when playing a quick return pass to his teammate and the linesman's flag was quickly up. A real nice feel to this match, which Man City are a tad fortunate to still lead at this stage.
The game has settled down a little more now, although Swansea still look the more composed on the ball. Aguero has only managed to get in behind once so far, while De Bruyne is also looking lively when on the ball for the visitors.
Still just the one shot on target so far, which provided the opening goal of the contest. Kingsley sends a decent set-piece delivery into the box, causing some real chaos as Hart completely misjudges the flight of the ball. Man City manage to clear their lines just about.
In case you missed the news - Manchester United's meeting with Bournemouth, due to take place at the same time as this match at the Liberty Stadium, has been abandoned. Should City lose today then that really will provide even more drama in this most amazing of Premier League seasons.
No denying that Swansea have been the better side when in possession so far, but they are lacking an end product. Iheanacho has just taken on a shot from range which Aguero was not happy with to say the least, before seeing his cross cleared away at the back post from the next attacking move.
SHOT! Kevin de Bruyne sends a shot low into the hands of Nordfeldt from Man City's second on-target shot of the match so far. Kelechi Iheanacho found the net with the first, giving the Citizens a fifth-minute lead which they have struggled to build on.
The visitors are looking more dangerous in the final third now, and possession is split almost 50-50 following a balanced contest so far. Aguero so nearly in behind again, only for the offside flag to go up - fine margins!
SAVE! Good save from the feet of Nordfeldt to deny Aguero a goal that would have taken him to the top of the scoring charts. A cross from the left was turned into the centre of the target, but the stand-in keeper was there to turn it away. Identical move to the opening goal, that, the difference being there was no City player waiting to tap home this time.
Aguero blasts his latest attempt into the side-netting, coming after Amat once again played the City man onside. Swansea have lost their grip on this game over the past 10 minutes or so, with the visitors looking the more likely to find the game's second goal at the moment.
Real slack play from the Swans once again, which allows Iheanacho to run at the opposition defence and open up a yard to take on a shot from the edge of the box. It was a poor attempt, in truth, sailing well over the crossbar to the relief of home supporters.
Iheanacho is seeing plenty of the ball in the final third, but he is not quite on his game this afternoon - that early tap-in aside. An incredible amount of passes wide of the mark from both sides, with a sort of pre-season friendly feel to this match.
Swansea still yet to test Hart on a single occasion, while the visitors have had five attempts on target. Only one of those got the better of Nordfeldt - Iheanacho's fifth-minute strike from a few yards out to make the breakthrough for a Citizens side on the brink of sealing a top-four finish.
Not a great deal of action over the past five minutes, with the game just about swinging back in the Swans' favour. The hosts still feel a little hard done by after having a goal, incorrectly in my opinion, ruled out soon after falling behind in this first half.
A swift Man City counter ends in a disappointing manner, as Navas bends his shot wide of the target. The Spanish winger really needed to test the Swansea keeper at the very least, and he also had De Bruyne well positioned had he looked up.
YELLOW CARD! Think both sides will take half time around about now, with neither doing enough to find the game's second goal at the moment. Otamendi is unlucky to concede a free kick, which Kelechi Iheanacho is quick to make clear to the referee, earning a caution in the process.
Montero blasts away a rare shot, which takes a deflection on its way wide. Hart still yet to make a single save this afternoon, which the Swans will be disappointed with on the balance of things. One minute of normal time to go until half time.
YELLOW CARD! Nicolas Otamendi is the latest to be shown a yellow for a rash challenge on Britton 30 yards from goal. Ayew looks likely to take the shot on here from a central position.
GOAL! SWANSEA CITY 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (ANDRE AYEW)
Well with the final act of the first half, Ayew does indeed take the free kick on which takes a huge deflection off Fernando and beats Joe Hart. I make that Swansea's first on-target shot of the half, with this game - and the race for the top four - now wide open.
HALF TIME: SWANSEA CITY 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Mike Dean blows his whistle for half time, bringing an end to a decent enough opening 45 minutes. Man City looked for all the world as though they had done enough to take a slender lead into the break, but Swansea hit back with the final meaningful act of the half through Ayew's free kick.
The Citizens were ahead inside five minutes, as Aguero's shot was saved by Nordfeldt before Iheanacho tapped home from close range. That provided the first controversial moment of the match, with the offside flag initially seeing the goal ruled out but Mike Dean overruled his assistant. Swansea's goal did not stand moments later, however, after Montero was adjudged - wrongly - to have shoved Sagna to the ground when heading home.
Aguero and Iheanacho both proved wasteful with a couple of half-chances as the game wore on, while Nordfeldt had to be alert to deny De Bruyne's shot 28 minutes in at the Liberty Stadium. A lull in proceedings followed, but Swansea did get their leveller in the 45th minute of the half when Ayew's free kick took a huge deflection off Fernando and found its way past a wrong-footed Hart.
BENCH WATCH!
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Vickers, Naughton, Fulton, Gorre, Barrow, Emnes, Gomis
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Sterling, Kolarov, Demichelis, Nasri, Toure, Bony
A reminder that Manchester United's meeting with Bournemouth, scheduled to kickoff at 3pm, has been abandoned due to a bomb scare. Very little updates from Old Trafford so far, but it remains to be seen when exactly that fixture will be played. At the Liberty Stadium, meanwhile, both sets of players are now back with us.
RESTART! We are back underway at the Liberty Stadium, where it is all to play for in this second half. Man City will happily take a point which will seal Champions League football, but defeat and it's advantage Man United.
CLOSE! A superb cross from De Bruyne into the back post area is met by Mangala, but the defender sent his attempt wide of the target. Probably should have been doing better from there, in truth - a decent early opening.
A positive start to the half by the hosts, who know that their opponents are there for the taking today. Man City really cannot afford to concede a second, so it will be interesting to see how they approach the closing stages should it remain this way.
CHANCE! Another big chance for the Citizens, as Navas's shot is kept out by Nordfeldt at the front post. The rebound fell nicely for Iheanacho, who just could not adjust his feet and failed to get a shot away before being closed down.
Swansea just turning the screw a little now, not content with taking a point from this fixture. The Swans have nothing to lose really on this final day, so they will go all out to pick up a result that Man United fans will be praying for.
The Swans win themselves a corner which is met well by Fernandez, but the ball just ends narrowly wide of the post. Both teams appear to be readying a couple of players to come on, with Swansea looking likely to role the dice first in that regard.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Modou Barrow is introduced for the final 30 minutes of this match, with Routledge the man to make way. Man City still have all three subs available to use, which Pellegrini must be thinking about around about now.
Both teams have had one half-chance apiece in this second half, but still no shots on goal so far since the restart. A goal for Swansea really will make things interesting, though at the moment the visitors seem quite content to play at their own pace.
CHANCE! Aguero's best chance of the match so far by quite some distance, which he fails to take. The division's joint-second top scorer had the ball at his feet right on the penalty spot, but he somehow dragged it wide of goal when under little pressure.
Pellegrini still yet to make any changes, with Wilfried Bony among his back-up options today. The ex-Swansea player has hardly set the world alight since joining, but he has two in two against his former suitors which is always a good omen.
YELLOW CARD! Bacary Sagna becomes the third Man City player to be shown a yellow card when bringing down Montero. The resultant free kick comes in but Swansea are unable to make the most of the chance. Good pressure from the Swans.
Kingsley sends another cross into the box, but it is too central and Hart easily collects to take some of the pressure off his side. A strange feel to this game in many ways, with both teams looking for the win but no doubt happy to take a point as things stand.
We remain locked at 1-1 heading into the final quarter of the match, with Andre Ayew's heavily-deflected free kick cancelling out Kelechi Iheanacho's earlier opener. Still plenty of time for one of these sides to win the game in South Wales.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Man City goalscorer Kelechi Iheanacho is off and Samir Nasri on in his place. The youngster made a good opening for himself moments before leaving the pitch, only to slip at the vital moment to see his shot end a good few yards over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Leon Britton clumsily brings down De Bruyne to become the first home player to enter the referee's book. A little over 15 minutes to go at the Liberty Stadium, where chances are at a premium at the moment.
Mangala appears to have picked up a knock, so Man City may have to shuffle around a little. The visitors win a corner, but De Bruyne's in-swinger goes straight out of play without a touch. A reminder - one point will essentially be enough for the Citizens in the race for the top four.
A teasing Nasri cross from the left is cleared away by a white shirt before any Man City player could get a touch. The visitors the team on top at the moment, but Swansea are certainly not sitting back and could have a second goal in them.
Man City are happy with the point judging by the last couple of minutes, as a quick break up the field came to very little as they passed their way back up the field. A dangerous game to play - one Swansea goal now likely to be enough to seriously dent the Citizens' top-four hopes.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Montero has been replaced by Gomis for the Swans eight minutes from time. A concern for the visitors, meanwhile, as Sagna appeared to jar his knee a couple of minutes ago and is now receiving some treatment.
Blue Moon is being belted out in the away section - no nerves from the travelling supporters, it seems. They are just six minutes, plus three or four minutes of stoppage time, away from getting the point they need. Incidentally, Sagna now seems to be okay.
Been a poor second half, in truth, with very few chances. Both teams largely happy to take a point, but we could still be in for a late twist one way or another. Man City really will kick themselves should they concede late on.
So very little to report back on at the moment in a very niggling period of the game. Very stop-start with very little action in the attacking third at either end of the pitch.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Just the three minutes of added time to come - thankfully! Very little chance of a late twist in South Wales, with the ball still being knocked around in midfield for large parts. Aguero is now off with Yaya Toure introduced.
FULL TIME: SWANSEA CITY 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Referee Mike Dean brings the game to a close in South Wales, meaning another season of Champions League football for the Citizens bar a miracle from rivals Manchester United. It is not the way outgoing boss Manuel Pellegrini would have wanted to end the season, of course, with a five-match winless run seeing City rather limp over the line.
That is it in terms of Sports Mole's live text coverage from the Liberty Stadium. An on-the-whistle report from can be found by clicking here, and reaction will soon follow so do not go anywhere!
