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  • Bernardo Silva breaks the deadlock inside the first minute of the second half.
  • Manchester City now 12 points from the Premier League title.
  • Chelsea five points off the top four with nine games left.

Don't both tuning into highlights of that game tonight, there won't be much to watch either. That was a really terrible game, and perhaps an insight into what City's dominance is doing to the division. But maybe that is for another day.

That brings an end to our Premier League coverage for another weekend. We're back tomorrow with Crystal Palace vs Manchester United but until then goodbye.

Full time: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea

As low key a Premier League game as I have covered all season. One goal separates the champions elect and the reigning champions in a very poor spectacle.

Bernardo Silva struck inside the opening minute of the second half as City claim a 14th straight home league in and within 12 points of the title.

Chelsea offered very, very little in the attacking third and should frankly be ashamed of their display, though it might be reflective of the dominance of their opponents this season. They didn't muster a single shot on target in the 90 minutes.

Four added minutes. Lord have mercy.

Alvaro Morata comes in with less than two minutes to go with his side 1-0 down away from home. If there was ever a sign your manager doesn't fancy you, this is it. Eden Hazard makes way.

Danilo is City's final change, replacing Zinchenko who has been among their best performers.

Gabriel Jesus on for Sergio Aguero for the final six minutes plus added time. You fancy as the Champions League starts to take priority, his opportunities in the Premier League might increase.

Emerson Palmeri coming on for Chelsea. Pedro, who has perhaps been the worst of a terrible bunch, makes way.

Alvaro Morata looked destined to come on too, he was stripped and ready, but he has put his club coat back on.

Tells you all you need to know.

Appalling delivery, which doesn't beat Gundogan at the near post. Sums up their performance really.

A corner for Chelsea. Ten minutes to go.

Sane ghosts past Moses but Aguero can't latch onto his cross. Now De Bruyne crosses and Christiansen clears.

Change for Chelsea; Olivier Giroud on for Willian. A change of shape, so let's see if it results in a change if emphasis.

Fifteen minutes to go. But we might as well call time on this one now. City are in complete control.

Eden Hazard has been an isolated figure throughout.

Eden Hazard
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Pedro overhits a pass to Hazard as Chelsea threaten again.

That has been the story for the Blues this afternoon. Their end product has been simply woeful.

Three quarters of the way through this game and it has been low on quality and end product, from both sides it must be said.

Not a great advert for Premier League football this one. Nothing 'super' about it, on Sunday.

Opportunity for Chelsea to break as they get a four-on-four but Willian's cross is cut out. City break down the other end by De Bruyne goes to ground.

End-to-end for a few seconds there. Probably the most exciting period of the game.

Chelsea have resorted to type here, happy to sit back and play damage limitation despite having gone a goal down. City monopolising possession and almost running time down. Still nearly half an hour to go.

Bernardo Silva opens the scoring at the start of the second half.

Bernardo Silva
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Big chance for Chelsea to draw level. Moses escapes down the right after Fabregas' ball but the Nigerian hits across the ball and it flies wide. He had Alonso screaming for it on the left but he couldn't find him.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea (Bernardo Silva)

Just 34 seconds after the break and City have the lead. David Silva crosses and with Marcos Alonso having switched off Bernardo Silva steals around the back and makes contact to divert the ball past Courtois.

Players back out and the second half is under way.

Half-time: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea

A woeful first half at the Etihad. City have huffed and puffed but lack the zip the rest of their campaign has been based around, while Chelsea have been solid yet unambitious in attack.

Chelsea fas are making their feelings about this first half display perfectly clear, just as Rudiger pumps the ball upfield to no-one.

Ball in the net for City but the offside flag is up. The Argentine lays it on for Bernardo Silva but he went too early from a quickly taken free-kick and is about two yards off.

Eden Hazard has cut a forlorn figure in this first half. The Belgian has barely seen the ball in this opening 38 minutes, but his body language is hardly of a player who wants it either.

Bernardo Silva gets his angles all wrong as he is fed by Sane, skewing his shot well wide.

It hasn't been a classic.

OFF THE LINE! Leroy Sane looks destined to score as he collects the ball from a free-kick and turns it towards goal, but Azpilicueta gets back and clears it off the line. Brilliant from the German.

First glimpse of Chelsea in an attacking sense and Moses touches the ball on to Willian - he was taken out by Zinchenko in the process - and the Brazilian drives the ball across goal but Hazard can't make contact and City clear.

A weaving run from Leroy Sane ends with Bernardo Silva curling over the bar from the corner of the penalty area. Had that dropped into it would not have been dissimilar to his goal against Arsenal.

David Silva watched closely by Cesar Azpilicueta.

Manchester City vs Chelsea
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Ederson called upon for the first time this afternoon, coming out of his goal to cut-off a long pass towards Hazard. The Brazilian has been a spectator for much of this opening quarter of an hour.

All City in the opening moments. Aguero catches Chelsea out but his goalbound shot is hacked clear by the visitors. The Argentine is one short of 200 for City, but he'll have to wait a bit longer to get that landmark goal.

Low key first seven minutes. City with much of the ball, but they're yet to fully test Thibaut Courtois.

Under way at the Etihad. Chelsea are the last team to win here. Can they repeat that?

Players come through 'tunnel club' and are on the field of play. Kick-off fast approaching.

It feels like some time ago when Everton took a point away from the Etihad Stadium in August at the start of the season. Can Chelsea became the latest side to do similar? City have won the last 13 in a row at home.

Watching Antonio Conte pay tribute to Davide Astori on Sky Sports at the moment and it looks like a very difficult interview for the Italian give, over a player who capped several times as Italy boss.

How Conte will be able to focus on the task at hand today is difficult to fathom.

No Kante, Barkley or Bakayoko for Chelsea today so Cesc Fabregas and Danny Drinkwater are entrusted with patrolling the midfield for the Blues.

Both men have been in and out of the team this season, with neither able to nail down a place.

Without a target man to play off, how they supply the likes of Hazard and stem the flow of attacks coming their way will be key to Chelsea's hopes.

Antonio Conte on Davide Astori: "This is a tragedy. It's very difficult, at this moment, to find the right words for the family. I had him with the national team. He was a great player but especially a fantastic guy. I stay really close to his family at this moment because he was only 31. It's very difficult to explain this situation to his wife, his parents and daughter."

City are looking to do the double over Chelsea today, with Kevin de Bryne netting the winner at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.

It was the first time City truly cemented their status as title favourites as they swept the Blues aside. And they'll be expected to repeat that again today.

Full time at The Amex where Brighton have added to Arsenal woes with a 2-1 win. That means it is time to turn our attention to matters at the Etihad. Kick-off is just over half-an-hour away.

Can the in-form Willian produce more magic at the Etihad?

Fans beginning to assemble at the Etihad.

Manchester City vs Chelsea
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And Chelsea have confirmed that news.

And here is the reason. Illness keeps Kante out.

Kante is ill apparently #cfc

— Simon Johnson (@sjstandardsport) March 4, 2018

We wait to hear why N'Golo Kante has been left out today. The Frenchman missed three games earlier in the season but has started all 25 of Chelsea's Premier League games which he has been fit for. Cesc Fabregas has benefitted either way and reclaims his place.

No spot for Ross Barkley on the bench incidentally. His Blues career really hasn't taken off.

No doubt Pep Guardiola is looking at the visit of Basel in mid-week with his team, though the Silva-De Bruyne-Sane-Aguero quartet start again.

Two changes also for Chelsea. N'Golo Kante misses out, with Cesc Fabregas coming back into the midfield, while Pedro replaces Alvaro Morata. Olivier Giroud on the bench alongside Gary Cahill.

Two changes for City. Kyle Walker does make it after going off in mid-week, with Aymeric Laporte and Oleksandr Zinchenko coming in for Vincent Kompany and Danilo.

And now the Chelsea XI.

The Man City team has dropped.

Team news should be with us any minute now.

If Antonio Conte is to take his leave from Chelsea this summer, as is expected, then can he leave the club with any hope for next season.

The Blues are face Barcelona Champions League last-16 second leg and face Leicester in the FA Cup last eight, so today is certainly down on their priority list but as defending champions they have a reputation to uphold.

Chelsea arrive at the Etihad Stadium.

What is the team news ahead of today's game?

Man City are expected to be without Kyle Walker, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling due to injury, while Fabian Delph is suspended.

Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ethan Ampadu and David Luiz are all missing for Chelsea. Ross Barkley returns after being absent for the loss at Manchester United.

A view of the Etihad Stadium ahead of kick-off. Whatever happens this season, as least one Premier League champion will have played here this term.

Manchester City vs Chelsea
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Tributes continue to pour in for Davide Astori, the Fiorentina captain who died overnight.

It is with great sadness that we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Davide Astori after today's shocking news.

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 4, 2018

Everybody at Chelsea Football Club is shocked and saddened at the sudden death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and team-mates at this time.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 4, 2018

The afternoon's Premier League action is already well under way, so if you want to keep abreast of the early kick-off between Brighton and Arsenal then head to our live blog for all the updates.

Manchester City can take another giant step towards the Premier League title if they can beat the reigning champions Chelsea this afternoon.

Pep Guardiola began what he hopes is a dynasty at the Etihad Stadium with victory in the Carabao Cup final, and his side can go within four wins of the championship if they can win today.

Antonio Conte's side have endured a rocky 2018 and are on course to miss out on a place in the top four. Liverpool and Tottenham both won on Saturday, meaning the Blues trail by five points and simply have to avoid defeat today to ensure they remain in contention.

All the build-up and team news ahead of the 4pm kick-off on the way.