Good afternoon all and thank you for joining us as we bring live coverage of an intriguing final day in the Premier League season. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side are travelling to face Watford today in the hope of securing a place in next season's Champions League.

Despite the championship and relegation already being decided, today presents an important day for third and fourth place as City, Liverpool and Arsenal all find themselves vying for a lucrative top-four finish.

City find themselves in the dominant position sitting in third place and they know three points today will land them with progression into the group stages of the Champions League. Should Guardiola's men secure just one point at Watford, they will be guaranteed of a fourth-placed finish, but will then require a playoff contest later in the summer to decide whether or not they make the group stages of Europe's leading competition.

Arsenal will be hoping that City lose and they win in order to potentially force a single-match playoff for a European spot, although Guardiola's charges will determined to ensure that they get the job done with room to spare at Vicarage Road.

Following a rather difficult season for Pep, City have now managed to lost just one of their last 16 Premier League games. The Sky Blues are also unbeaten seven league matches with five wins and two draws, having scored 18 goals in that period.

As for the Hornets, Watford have lost five consecutive Premier League games and recently announced that this will be coach Walter Mazzarri's final game in charge at the club.

Right, time for some team news...

WATFORD STARTING XI: Gomes; Holebas, Mariappa, Janmaat, Amrabat, Behrami, Doucoure, Niang, Cleverley, Capoue, Okaka

WATFORD SUBSTITUTES: Deeney, Zuniga, Watson, Pantilimon, Mason, Eleftheriou, Pereira

MANCHESTER CITY STARTING XI: Caballero; Clichy, Kompany, Otamendi, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Yaya Toure, Sane, Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Gunn, Sagna, Sterling, Kolarov, Navas, Stones, Iheanacho

So the major news for City sees Vincent Kompany keeping his place at the back, while youngster John Stones starts on the bench. Guardiola has gone for an attacking lineup, which also includes both Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero in attack. Raheem Sterling still finds himself on the bench with both Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure starting in the visitors' midfield.

Much has been made of Troy Deeney's future at Watford and the experienced frontman finds himself on the bench today. Watford have opted for Stefano Okaka up top, with further creative supplied by M'Baye Niang, Etienne Capoue and Tom Cleverley. Adrian Mariappa and Miguel Britos are missing through injury and so too are Christian Kabasele, Craig Cathcart and Younes Kaboul.

Well what of City's chances today, then? Statistics show that Guardiola's side have never lost to Watford in the Premier League. In fact, across seven previous meetings in different competitions, Watford have not been able to beat City once. The Hornets' last victory over City came in Division Two in 1989.

One problem area for Watford in recent weeks has been in attack. They have scored only four goals in their last seven league games and three of those arrived during Monday's 4-3 defeat at champions Chelsea.

The club's poor run extends beyond that too. Watford have suffered defeat in all seven matches this season against teams in the current top four of the Premier League table.

This afternoon represents a huge moment for Guardiola, who has arguably endured a tough first season in the English top flight. This is going to be the first time in Guardiola's career as a manager that he has failed to end up in the top two. Having said that, the team can go some way to remedying their failures this term by securing Champions League football again for next season.

The Premier League's final day tends to often be a productive one for City. The Sky Blues have only lost one of their last eight games on the special day. That defeat came back in 2012-13 as part of a 3-2 loss to Norwich City.

One key man for City is likely to be Aguero. The frontman has a fantastic record against the Hornets, having scored four goals in his last three games against Watford across all competitions. The presence of Jesus should provide a real problem for a vulnerable Watford defence too, which looks a little makeshift at the moment.

One silver lining for Watford coming into this clash is that the Hornets are unbeaten in their three Premier League final day matches, all three of which have taken place at Vicarage Road.

It will be intriguing to see how this Watford side responds to the news that Mazzarri will departing after this game. The club has a poor 30 per cent win percentage in the league.

Guardiola has certainly made clear that his team will not be beating about the bush going into the match. Here is what the coach has had to say about the tie, according to BBC Sport:

"It's a crucial game for us absolutely - a final. It's in our hands. We have to go there and win. We have won three in a row but we still have 95, 96 minutes to fight. Watford have had a good season. They are safe. We have to be careful. We are going to make changes [in the summer]."

It has been a mixed season for Mazzarri after leading this side to a tremendous run during the early stages of the league. The coach too has been speaking about his departure from the club ahead of the match. Here is what he has said, as per BBC Sport:

"I would like to thank the main characters of this season - the players and the fans. Our fans have always been extraordinary with their participation and with their fantastic passion for the whole season. Also I thank the players, who have always given 200 per cent of what they had, always going further and pushing their limits."

Here is a look at exactly how Guardiola's side will organise themselves today:

Such has been Watford's slide this year, the Hornets are now on their longest losing streak in nine years. If they lose again today it will be their longest for 44 years.

We are set for a warm day in Hertfordshire with temperatures peaking up at around 18 degrees Celsius. It's a little overcast at the moment, but there is very little chance of rain. It could be quite a sapping day for the players at points.

As an aside, just a reminder that you can now vote in our Reader Awards 2016-17. If you fancy having your say in what were some of the league's top performances, performers and moments, then head over to our awards page where you can register your votes now.

PREDICTION! We have around 15 minutes until kickoff now and it is time to make a prediction. City have things in their own hands as they aim to finalise an important third-place finish. Guardiola has gone with an attacking lineup and you feel that this game certainly has goals in it. Watford have struggled greatly in recent weeks and the fact that the Hornets are now missing six central defenders suggests that they might succumb to defeat on the Premier League's final day. City should see this through comfortable, probably by a few goals - 3-1 to the Sky Blues.

Kompany's place in today's side should be a real confidence booster for the visitors. Stones will likely become a key player in the future for City, but you have to admit that Guardiola's teams look so much more assured when Kompany is sitting at the heart of their defence.

Not long to go now and the travelling City fans are in full voice already at Vicarage. The Hornets have little but pride to play for, but everything rests on this contest for City. Can they secure automatic progression into the Champions League this afternoon? Those that have travelled down from Manchester certainly think so. The atmosphere is building nicely here...

The players emerge from the tunnel at a sun-drenched Vicarage and City definitely look steely heading into the contest. A point here secures top-four, while a victory would see City claim third spot in the standings.

KICKOFF! Here we go then... City feature in all blue, while the Hornets are in their standard home kit too. The visitors get us moving.

CHANCE! City have started things brightly here with a few direct balls into the path of Aguero and company. The ball is worked into Sane and then Gomes fails with his kick out from a deflection. The ball falls to Aguero who then finds Jesus, but his tame effort drops kindly on the line for Holebas to clear.

Watford are yet to really get out of their own half yet as City continue with an intensive press in the opening stages. Guardiola's men certainly look up for this.

De Bruyne shows great feet to turn his man in the middle of the pitch before working the ball to Jesus out wide. The youngster finds Fernandinho, whose early cross is seen out by Mason.

That will certainly settle any early nerves for the visitors and it is an absolute gift from Watford. From the resulting corner, De Bruyne swings a decent ball into the middle of the box, where some awful zonal marking sees Kompany standing unmarked to head powerfully beyond a helpless Gomes. Dire defending, although it's a perfect start for Guardiola.

This could be a long afternoon for the Watford fans given how things have panned out thus far in this contest. The Hornets have managed to get themselves a little higher up the pitch than they initially were, but City have looked rampant when venturing forward.

Sane has caused some early problems coming in off the left flank and he almost gets the better of the Watford defence with a brilliant, mazing run before being stopped by a strong intervention from Janmaat just inside the area.

More poor defending sees Watford give the ball away just short of the area, leaving Jesus with the chance to slide something through into the path of Silva, but the pass is short of the required quality and the Hornets are able to clear their lines.

Sane is at it again, this time as Silva and De Bruyne combine to feed the German in down the left channel. The winger is able to beat his man, but tries to do so on too many occasions, before eventually being hounded out by the retreating Watford back-line.

CHANCE! What is Jesus thinking? De Bruyne plays a wonderful through ball into the path of the youngster who is released through on goal with just the keeper to beat. Instead of finishing beyond Gomes, he tries to square across the box for Aguero, who is successfully dispossessed by a thankful Holebas.

Watford have offered very little thus far and City still stand dominant. The tempo has slowed slightly although the visitors look ready to spring from midfield at any given moment.

WHAT A SAVE! Fantastic work from City again as De Bruyne feeds Jesus into the right channel. The ball is drilled into the box for an on-rushing Aguero, who opens up his feet to turn the ball towards goal. Gomes has absolutely no right to save this, but somehow the stopper is able to get a trailing leg on the Argentine's effort. It should be 2-0, really...

Watford need to watch themselves here. City open up again from the counter, this time as Sane breaks down the left. The winger almost picks out a perfect ball across the field for the run of Jesus into space, but luckily youngster Mason gets a vital foot in to divert the ball away from the Brazilian.

What did I just say? Watford lose possession on the edge of the City box, where it is quickly fed into the path of De Bruyne just inside of the Watford half. The playmaker moves into space before unloading with a wonderful, eye-of-a-needle pass to find the run of Aguero behind the Watford defence. There's no question of the outcome once the striker collects the ball, as he picks out the far corner beyond a stranded Gomes. That is 18 assists for De Bruyne, while that effort takes Aguero to 19 league goals - his joint-top tally for a season.

Do Watford have anything in response to this? Not at the moment, they look totally lost of here today. City are almost through once more with some neat work off the left flank, but Sane cannot compete the slide-rule pass to find the run of Jesus.

And still City pour forward... For some reason it's Kompany this time who decides to go on a charge down the right flank. His cross finds the chest of Silva in the area, but Behrami climbs in to make the interception.

Guardiola will be pleased with this showing, City have rarely looked so comfortable all season. Things have clicked quickly in the final third and, dare I say it, they are also looking fairly comfortable at the back.

Poor old Gomes, he has come in for some stick. He's had to deal with a few tricky back-passes and has made a meal of all of them. This time the stopper hoofs straight into the stands under pressure from De Bruyne, much to the laughter of the travelling City support.

Now that is how you counter attack! Clichy is fed the ball down the left on the break, who then finds a return ball to Silva in the middle. Sane makes the run on the overlap and is soon found with a clever ball into the left channel beyond the full-back. All the while Aguero is keeping up with ball and holds off ever so slightly before being picked out with a cut-back from the young German, leaving the Argentine frontman with a fairly simple finish from inside the area.

SUBSTITUTION: Watford make an early change as Janmaat is replaced by Andrew Eleftheriou in defence.

Can I please un-see what just happened, please? Was that honestly a goal conceded during a Premier League contest? Watford have about five chances to clear the ball before it breaks kindly into the path of Fernandinho on the edge of the area. The midfielder is still marked, however, but he simply nudges his marker out of the way, allowing him to thread a neat finish to the far post. Most of this Watford side are clearly dreaming of beaches already.

We're going to have one minute of additional time...

Blimey, what an abject showing from Watford. Delightful work from Man City, mind, but I doubt you'll see a worse performance from a Premier League side than what the Hornets have served up during that half. City are comfortably on course to claim an important third-place finish, which will lead them automatically into the Champions League next term.

Aside from that woeful showing from the hosts, City have looked remarkable in the final third - especially when Silva and De Bruyne have been afforded space to operate in between the home defence and midfield. Guardiola's side have been clinical and can now relax during the second half.

City will just want more of the same in the second period, while it would be unsurprising if most of the Watford fans had cleared out of Vicarage Road at half time.

KICKOFF! Watford get things moving in the second period after a bird on the pitch holds up the restart. Yep, cute little thing bless it - you couldn't write these things if you tried...

SAVE! Where did that come from? Okaka bursts out of nowhere down the left and cuts inside to beat the City defence. The frontman unleashes a wonderful strike towards the top corner, where Caballero rises finely to tip the shot over the crossbar.

It's back... The bird is back! Play is stopped momentarily again as the winged crusader flutters around on the pitch. Thankfully Watford's Niang is on hand to scoop up the intruder and carry him off the pitch. He passes things over to an official inside the stadium and play soon resumes. Who says this league is just full of overpaid superstars, hey?

ALMOST! Aguero is looking for a hat-trick now and he holds off cleverly at the back-post while awaiting a through-ball from Silva. The pass doesn't quite cut it, though, leaving Watford to claim the goal kick with little trouble.

CLOSE! Niang almost pulls one back for the hosts. Fernandinho is caught dithering on the edge of the box, leaving the AC Milan loanee to steal in and take control of the ball. The youngster advances into the area, but his shot is then deflected away for a corner.

CHANCE! That should be a hat-trick for Aguero. It's all down to Sane who shreds down the left before delivering a wonderful ball across the face of goal for Aguero. It's a simple tap-in that your average household pet would have no trouble scoring, but somehow Aguero manages to skew his shot wide. Laughable, really...

Not that it matters too much, though... City have five just a minute later as Jesus gets in on the act. It's Aguero who makes the chance with a bright run forward, although Jesus deserves much of the credit as he brings the ball down under a challenge from a defender before chipping the most delicate of finishes over the head over Gomes and into the roof of the net.

SUBSTITUTES: Two changes for City now as Sane and Toure make way for Jesus Navas and Bacary Sagna. You get the feeling that those moves a merely ceremonial, as both players find themselves out of contract during the summer.

ALMOST! Wonderful work from Aguero and he deserves this hat-trick. Gomes has other ideas, though, as the keeper is able to scramble back from a collision inside the area to tip the striker's curling effort wide of the post, before seemingly going down injured. The medics are on.

SUBSTITUTION: Aguero looks nothing short of livid as he is taken off in place of Iheanacho. You would have thought Guardiola would have left him on for his hat-trick. Could these two goals be Aguero's last for City?

OFF THE LINE! Watford might have got themselves a consolation there as Doucoure profits from a mix up inside the box. It looks like the ball might just bounce into the net, but Otamendi hacks clear off the line to keep the visitors inline for a clean sheet.

15 minutes to play here in Hertfordshire and Watford have improved ever so slightly in the last few minutes. That said, Watford have simply rolled over under the slightest hint of pressure today. This will be a performance the club will likely want to try and erase from its history.

Pep is looking fairly pleased on the bench at the moment. To be fair to City, they haven't failed in the league because of their away showings. It has been at home where their title challenge arguably fell away this term.

Proceedings have descended into what could be described as a training match. Things have started to get a little scrappy in possession and neither side look too fussed about putting something together in front of goal.

More keep ball now as we head into the closing moments of this contest, which has arguably been over as early as the 43rd minute. Fair play to the Watford fans for not heading home early too. They've been put through the ringer this afternoon.

We're going to have one minute of additional time here...

A job well done then for City, who put five past a woeful Watford side in order to secure third place in the league standings on the final day of the season. That result means that Guardiola and company will feature in the Champions League next season without having to negotiate a playoff fixture later in the summer. As for Watford, given the reaction from some sections of fans, they might be thankful to see the back of Mazzarri following his last game in charge here. Thank you for joining us this afternoon!