Man City vs Chelsea score, result, highlights as Alvarez strikes before Premier League champions lift trophy

Raj Singh Mahil

Man City vs Chelsea score, result, highlights as Alvarez strikes before Premier League champions lift trophy image

ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — A fifth Premier League trophy lift in six years followed Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, as the champions closed out their home campaign in a party atmosphere. 

Challengers Arsenal lost at Nottingham Forest a day earlier, as part of a late-season collapse which has seen the Gunners win just one of their last seven outings. It meant that City officially clinched the title with three games left to play. 

The first of those saw Pep Guardiola make a raft of changes for the visit of Chelsea, following City’s triumph over European kings Real Madrid in midweek. Only Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji remained, but it made little difference to the visitors’ chances. 

Following a guard of honour from Frank Lampard — once of this parish — and his troops, City wasted no time in turning on the style. The youngsters given a rare start were purring like the predators who usually prowl this field, with two combining for the opener after 12 minutes. 

The rangy Cole Palmer, who enjoyed himself all afternoon in facing Cesar Azpilicueta, broke down the left before playing it across to Julian Alvarez. The World Cup winner took it perfectly in his stride on the right edge of the box, before slotting past Kepa Arrizabalaga, who replaced Edouard Mendy in the Chelsea XI, with ease. 

It marked the 17th goal across across all competitions in a sensational debut season for Alvarez, which has only gone under the radar by virtue of the otherworldly teammate he stepped in for today. 

Phil Foden — who incredibly collected his fifth Premier League winners’ medal before even turning 23 — was given the freedom of the park. The England international was toying with the Blues’ midfielders, twisting and turning in his usual manner before spraying balls out to Palmer and Riyad Mahrez. It looked like he might single-handedly dictate the tempo and decide whether City turn it into a cricket score. 

MORE: Are Guardiola's Man City the Premier League's greatest dynasty? 

But, Chelsea had other ideas. They bit back with a few chances of their own, particularly through Raheem Sterling, who made his first return to Etihad Stadium since departing last summer as a four-time league champion. First he fluffed an attempted square after collecting a brilliant ball over the top from Enzo Fernandez. Moments later, he raced past Manuel Akanji to get a shot on goal himself, but Stefan Ortega saved well on the ground. 

City soon shut the half down by controlling possession as the end-of-season vibe fully took hold, but Chelsea came back from the interval stronger. Again Sterling was perpetually involved and relishing the battle with compatriot Kyle Walker, while Conor Gallagher — who had also hit the post in the first half — began to roam and link up well. 

Chelsea’s steam soon ran out amid a host of alterations from Lampard, including the exit of Sterling to a standing ovation from the home crowd. City didn’t have too much to offer themselves, though Alvarez did have the ball in the back of the net again. Referee Michael Oliver ruled it out after a check of the monitor, however, due to a Mahrez handball in the buildup. 

That non-assist was the Algerian’s last action of the day, as he was replaced by Erling Haaland amid a rapturous reception. Kevin De Bruyne soon followed, but City couldn't, or perhaps didn't feel the need to, turn the screw. 

On the full-time whistle, City fans stormed the pitch immediately in scenes rarely seen in the top-flight. The players rushed down the tunnel as security could do nothing to swap the fans swarming the field within seconds, along with flares and banners. In September, the Premier League introduced a minimum term of a one-year stadium ban for anyone caught entering the field. 

It should come as no surprise, but Guardiola — in what was effectively a meaningless game for his team — was shuffling non-stop on the sideline. Whether it was nearly exploding with rage as his defenders played out too slowly or sprinting to shuffle around his midfield positionally, his antics as ever symbolised why this City team is so damn good. 

He, and they, are relentless. Every player that comes in to this all-conquering team on an afternoon full of changes like this, whether a world-class talent or a child plucked from the academy, is at the level required. The faces change, but the intensity remains. 

It’s why they are on course for 94 points — a figure which would’ve been the second-highest of all-time before the Guardiola era, and now pales into insignificance. Yes, it’s against the backdrop of 115 alleged breaches of the league’s financial rules, but either way, the sheer ruthlessness has to be marvelled at. 

To hit that total, City now need to beat Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, both on the road. After that comes their shot at immortality, with Manchester United in the FA Cup final and Inter Milan in the Champions League final standing between the Citizens and the treble. 

Chelsea, meanwhile, have nothing to play for other than a single position in mid-table, with Frank Lampard's men sitting a point off 11th-placed Crystal Palace with a game in hand. That game is another trip to Manchester on Thursday, four miles away at Old Trafford. 

The Sporting News is live from Manchester, with live score updates and highlights below.

Man City vs Chelsea final score

  Final Score Goalscorers
Man City 1

Alvarez (12)

Chelsea 0

Man City vs Chelsea updates, highlights

Man City lift Premier League trophy

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FULL-TIME: Man City 1-0 Chelsea

It's over, and the fans have invaded the pitch here. There'll be a long delay before the trophy presentation while it's cleared. 

90th min: We're now into added time, as three minutes remain of City's home season. 

86th min: Neither side really look like scoring at this stage, with City strolling towards the finish line as Chelsea's early burst in the second half seems to have evaporated. The visitors are now looking very different themselves, with Pulisic, Koulibaly and Chukwuemeka on. 

78th min: De Bruyne and Rodrigo make their entrances, with the travelling fans behind the goal singing "Chelsea reject" to the former. 

74th min: The atmosphere has cranked up a notch and Haaland nearly makes an instant impact, found by Lewis but spurning his left-footed strike across goal. 

73rd min: NO GOAL! Michael Oliver overturns it after a check of the VAR monitor, with Mahrez adjudged to have handballed it. That was his last action of the game, with Haaland on to replace the winger. 

71st min: GOAL! Alvarez makes it two! Mahrez breaks down the right as Hall comes up short with his sliding challenge, leaving the Algerian with the simple task of putting across the box for Alvarez to tap in. 2-0. 

69th min: Madueke, who was unfortunate to lose his place in the side on recent form, is now on for Chelsea alongside Mudryk. Sterling goes off to a standing ovation from the City fans, with Gallagher also exiting. 

62nd min: The sight of Gundogan, Haaland and De Bruyne now warming up will send shivers down the spines of these Chelsea players. 

58th min: The whole ground sings the name of John Stones, who replaces Akanji in a City team which needs to wake up. Immediately from a free-kick, Phillips then heads an effort past Kepa but it hits the woodwork!

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51st min: Lampard's men have started this half much the better side, with the likes of Loftus-Cheek getting on the ball more. Their latest chance sees Sterling break forward at speed before laying it off to Gallagher, whose effort from the left forces a save from Ortega. 

46th min: We're back underway in sunny Manchester. No changes at the break. 

HALF-TIME: Man City 1-0 Chelsea

45th min: Other than a Phillips long-range effort which sailed wide, the half has completely petered out with the pace dropping to a crawl. A minute of additional time to come. 

36th min: Now Gallagher goes close too! He sprints in at the back post to meet a Hall cross but his header hits the post. 

34th min: A pair of chances for Sterling in the space of a goal of minutes. The first sees a wonderful ball over the top from Fernandez which takes out the entire home defence, but Sterling gets his attempted square horribly wrong as it harmlessly hits Akanji. Next time, he races past the centre-back in collecting a through ball but his shot on goal is saved low by Ortega. A couple of warning signs. 

29th min: Foden very nearly pulls out a party piece, attempting to lob Kepa from 25 yards, on the run after a superb first touch and at an angle, but it goes just wide. It already feels like one of those days. 

25th min: As is so often the case when Guardiola makes a raft of alterations, his second string can still look as fluid as the top boys. The hosts are now controlling possession and picking their moments as they see fit. Foden has so much freedom in the middle, toying with the Blues and spraying it out to the likes of Palmer. Only a last-ditch clearance from Chalobah stops a second goal. 

15th min: Fantastic play from Foden with a first-time ball out to the left creates a really dangerous attack for the hosts, but Chelsea just about keep it out, despite several bites of the cherry, including from the England international himself and Mahrez. 

12th min: GOAL! Alvarez puts City ahead! In for Haaland today and off the back of a late finish against Real Madrid, the Argentinian gets the party started here. He collects the ball on the right edge of the box after a run from Palmer down the left, and his first touch is brilliant, setting him up perfectly to slot past Kepa. 1-0. 

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6th min: Half-chances for both sides in the early knockings. Mahrez left the Chelsea backline with twisted blood as he broke into the box for the first chance of the game, before shots from Philips and Gomez. At the other end, the visitors had a little spell of their own, with Azpilicueta getting past Lewis down the right flank well but his cross couldn't quite find Sterling. 

KICK-OFF: It's a party atmosphere as the champions get us underway.

20 mins to KO: Lampard is not the only one making a return to City, with Raheem Sterling appearing as an opposing player for the first time since departing last summer. The winger missed the FA Cup tie here in January through injury. 

Sterling enjoyed a sensational time under Guardiola, scoring 91 times in 225 Premier League games, en route to collecting four medals. His move to West London hasn't panned out too well so far, though not exactly his own fault, given dysfunctional Chelsea's massive struggles as a team. Battling with several knocks, too, the 28-year-old has scored six goals in 26 league outings. 

40 mins to KO: City have a couple of players who may be waving goodbye to Etihad Stadium this afternoon, with their contracts expiring this summer. Scott Carson is one of them, with the goalkeeper being an important presence in the dressing room, even if his opportunities have been extremely limited behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega. 

The other, of slightly more concern, is Ilkay Gundogan. As yet, the midfielder’s future is uncertain, with some reports suggesting he’ll pen a new long-term deal at City, while others have linked him with Barcelona. The midfielder has been on fire in recent weeks, with back-to-back braces against Leeds United and Everton. 

1 hour to KO: Team news is in. For Chelsea, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kai Havertz Wesley Fofana all come in, following the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest last time out. 

Wholesale changes for the hosts, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne rested. Only Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji stay in the team which beat Real Madrid in midweek. 

1 hour 30 mins to KO: Frank Lampard is returning to this ground for the third time as a manager, losing here with Chelsea in 2019/20 and surprisingly drawing with Everton earlier this season. The former England international also spent one year at City as a player, featuring 32 times across a trophyless 2014/15 campaign.

2 hours to KO: Welcome to Etihad Stadium for Manchester City's title party. They're getting rather used to this — and there could still be a lot more to celebrate in the coming three weeks. An FA Cup final against bitter rivals Manchester United and Champions League final against Inter Milan will close out their season, with the chance to become only the second team in English football history to complete the treble. 

The Citizens look unstoppable in that quest, currently riding a 23-game unbeaten streak, stretching back to a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in February. Every single home game across three competitions since then has been won. 

MORE: Watch every Premier League match live with fubo in Canada

Man City vs Chelsea lineups

Man City lineup (3-2-4-1): Ortega (GK) — Walker, Akanji, Laporte — Phillips, Gomez — Foden, Palmer, Lewis, Mahrez — Alvarez

Chelsea lineup (3-5-2): Kepa (GK) — Fofana, Silva, Chalobah — Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Fernandez, Gallagher, Hall — Havertz, Sterling

What time does Man City vs Chelsea kick off?

This Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium kicks off at 4 p.m. local time.Here's how that time translates across several territories:

  Date Kickoff time
USA Sun, May. 21 11 a.m. ET
Canada Sun, May. 21 11 a.m. ET
UK Sun, May. 21 4 p.m. BST
Australia Mon, May. 22 1 a.m. AEST
India Sun, May. 21 8 p.m. IST
Hong Kong Sun, May. 21 11 p.m. HKT
Malaysia Sun, May. 21 11 p.m. MYT
Singapore Sun, May. 21 11 p.m. SGT
New Zealand Mon, May. 22 3 a.m. NZST

Man City vs Chelsea live stream, TV channel

  TV channel Streaming
USA NBC USA Network Fubo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada Fubo
UK Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League Sky GO
Australia Optus Sport
New Zealand Sky Sport 6 NZ Sky Sport NOW, Sky Go NZ
India Star Sports Select 2 Hotstar VIP,
JioTV
Hong Kong Now Premier League 
(Ch. 620-621)
Now E,
Now Player
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3 Astro Go, sooka
Singapore Hub Premier 1-3 (Ch. 221-222) StarHub TV+

Raj Singh Mahil

Raj Singh Mahil Photo

Raj Singh Mahil joined The Sporting News as Chief Editor in 2021, leading the UK editorial team. He was previously North America and Global Chief Editor at DAZN.