Rampant Man City can smell Arsenal’s blood in the title race

Manchester City’s Marc Guehi celebrates scoring their second goal with Antoine Semenyo - Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Manchester City have their “free soul” and as this Premier League title race tightens up, Rayan Cherki might just be the liberating difference.

Contrast his maverick brilliance, his individual spirit, with just how uptight, inhibited and tense Arsenal feel right now. They certainly have no one like him or – crucially - no one allowed to play like him.

For 45 minutes, this was an undeniably dull and flat performance, lacking in inspiration for City and it would have been a first-half that delighted Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior.

And then Cherki turned it on with two superb assists in six minutes – the second was arresting – as City cut the gap at the top, exploiting Arsenal’s home defeat to Bournemouth, to just six points.

They have a game in hand and face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday. What an encounter that promises to be.

For the avoidance of any doubt, it is ‘game on’ in the title race and after Jeremy Doku stole the ball away from Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, who shockingly turned into trouble outside his own penalty area, to score City’s third, the chant was clear.

“Are you watching Arsenal,” sang the gleeful City fans. They certainly would have been.

As the celebrations continued, a City fan was caught on camera drinking from an Arsenal-branded water bottle. We all get the ‘bottle’ symbolism.

The hunt is on and Arsenal look like increasingly scared prey while City – including that Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal – have now beaten them, Liverpool and Chelsea in their last three games at an aggregate of 9-0. The size of this win also cut Arsenal’s goal difference advantage at the top to three.

Full report to follow...

07:02pm

Guardiola reflects on a crucial victory

Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola said:

“I am always happy when you win way at stadiums at Stamford Bridge. The fans are happy, we are happier.

“Second half was was much better - it was not bad first half, but some players were not as they needed to be. We attacked a bit left side, but right side we attacked without threat. Second half was better on both sides.”

When asked about Rayan Cherki, he replied:

“Rayan is an extraordinary talent - the second goal, the pass to Marc [Guehi]. The problem for Rayan is sometimes he plays in positions too close to Donnarumma, your talent has to be in the final third. Be close to Haaland, close to wingers.

“We will bring the ball to you. It’s not necessary to come down [the pitch]. He is so young, his impact in Premier League in first season... he is already an extraordinary player. He has the desire to be even better. That will be good for City and him.”

06:51pm

Doku targets the title

06:39pm

How the top of the table looks now

06:36pm

Guehi and Cherki speak to Sky Sports

06:31pm

FT: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Man City have flexed their title-winning muscles, recording an impressive 3-0 victory away at Chelsea thanks to a scintillating second half display. Goals from O’Reilly, Guehi and Doku secured the win and Man City are now just six points behind Arsenal, having played a game less. Meanwhile, it’s another sobering defeat for Rosenior’s Chelsea, who have now lost four of their last five Premier League games. The hosts stay sixth and are in serious danger of missing out on European football for next season.

06:26pm

90+8 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Essugo is shown a late yellow card for clattering into Kovacic. We are seconds away from the full-time whistle now.

06:24pm

90+6 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Ait-Nouri tries to find Haaland with a cross, but the delivery is just too high for the striker. Nunes then clips another ball into the box. Haaland reaches this one, but Sanchez catches his header. Rather incredibly, Sanchez is penalised for holding onto the ball for too long and Man City are awarded a corner.

06:20pm

90+3 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

This has descended into a training exercise for Man City. They’re popping the ball around with so much confidence and Chelsea cannot get near them.

06:19pm

90 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

There will be eight minutes of added time at the end of this game. Man City are set to close the gap on Arsenal to just six points.

06:17pm

88 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

There is another late Chelsea change as Acheampong replaces Gusto. A lot of the home support have already left the stadium. Chelsea are in real danger of missing out on European football for next season and everyone knows it.

06:13pm

85 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Palmer curls a free-kick at goal, but Donnarumma is right behind it and makes a strong save. He is congratulated by his teammates as Man City continue to protect their clean sheet.

06:11pm

83 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Donnarumma makes a superb save. Lavia clips an intelligent pass through to Cucurella, who has made a great run from left back. The Spaniard reaches it and his close-range header is stopped by Donnarumma’s towering frame.

06:09pm

82 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Former Chelsea man Kovacic comes on to replace Silva in Man City’s midfield. The home side make a late double change, with Essugo and Delap on for Joao Pedro and Caicedo.

06:08pm

79 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Man City are now firing on all cylinders, while Chelsea are doing quite the opposite as they look set for their fourth defeat in five Premier League games.

06:05pm

76 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Cherki and Doku both come off to standing ovations from the away support as Foden and Savinho are introduced into the action. It seems like Man City are hitting their stride at the perfect point in the season and one fan is sending a message to Arsenal...

06:02pm

75 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

The irrepressible Cherki has made the difference for Man City again.

Think about how free spirited Rayan Cherki looks when he’s playing like this and compare it to how shackled Eze looks at Arsenal. He’s turned this game on its head with two moments of magic to set up O’Reilly and Guehi. The City fans love him.

06:01pm

73 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Rodri is back on his feet and luckily for Man City, he looks ready to continue.

06:00pm

72 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 3

Cucurella runs forward and smashes an effort wide. More importantly, Lavia crashes into Rodri, who rolls his ankle. The Man City midfielder hits the deck and looks to be in serious pain.

05:58pm

GOAL! Doku adds a third as Chelsea fall apart

What is Caicedo doing?! Sanchez catches Semenyo’s shot and throws the ball out to Caicedo, who is quickly charged down by Cherki and Doku. The latter emerges with the ball, strides into the penalty area, and fires a strike into the bottom corner. This game is done and dusted. Man City have secured the three points and Chelsea have collapsed.

05:55pm

67 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 2

Great defending from Guehi. Cucurella rolls a cross into Palmer’s path. The Chelsea man sweeps an attempt at goal, but his effort is brilliantly blocked by Guehi. Rosenior also makes two changes, with Garnacho and Lavia replacing Estevao and Andrey Santos.

05:52pm

64 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 2

After a short conversation between O’Reilly and Guardiola, the player comes off and heads straight down the tunnel. Ait-Nouri is on as his replacement.

05:50pm

62 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 2

This is a worrying sight for Man City fans as O’Reilly goes down off the ball and seems to have an issue with his left hamstring. It would be such a shame if he has to go off injured.

05:48pm

60 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 2

Look away Arsenal fans... After an underwhelming first half, Man City have flown out of the blocks in the second. Quickfire goals from O’Reilly and Guehi have both Man City in seemingly unassailable control.

Marc Guehi celebrates after doubling Manchester City’s lead at Chelsea - Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters

05:46pm

GOAL! Guehi doubles Man City’s lead

The former Chelsea man comes back to haunt his old club with a brilliant finish. Man City play a short corner and Doku picks out Cherki. The playmaker dances away from Hato and slips an intelligent pass through to the unmarked Guehi, who places a composed effort into the bottom corner. Man City are cruising and Chelsea are stunned.

05:44pm

56 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1

Nunes latches onto Cherki’s looped pass and lofts a cross into the box. Fofana does incredibly well to beat Haaland to the ball and head it out for a corner.

05:41pm

53 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1

Whatever Guardiola said to his players at half-time, it has worked wonders. Man City have been all over Chelsea in the opening eight minutes of this second half and Chelsea cannot deal with their newfound tempo.

05:40pm

GOAL! O’Reilly heads Man City in front

Man City are rewarded for their lightning start to this second half as Cherki chops inside of Estevao and clips a cross into the box. O’Reilly shrugs off Andrey Santos, before calmly heading into the top corner. The away fans go absolutely wild and the visitors have the all-important lead. That could be a huge goal in the title race.

05:36pm

48 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Golden chance for Haaland. Doku dribbles, looks up and feeds Haaland, who makes a penetrating run through the Chelsea defence. Hato rushes over and makes a goal-saving block to deny the striker. Semenyo then slips a pass through to Cherki and he flashes a fizzing effort wide of the far post. Man City have made a lightning start to this second half.

05:34pm

46 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

We are back under way for the second half.

05:32pm

Man City must improve

That was a hugely underwhelming half of football from Manchester City. We expected far more from them as they have been given the chance to hunt down Arsenal in the title race. Surely there has to be far more urgency and tempo from them in the second-half. Chelsea will be happy with their performance with Cole Palmer up for it against his former club.

05:22pm

HT: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

In a competitive first-half, the score is locked in at 0-0 between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The hosts have been the better side, and did score in the first half through Cucurella, but he was in an offside position, while Joao Pedro, Palmer and Neto have also looked busy. For Man City, Silva forced Sanchez into a smart save, before Semenyo shot wide. Andrey Santos headed a late chance over for Chelsea, but we’re still waiting for this game to burst into life.

Moises Caicedo and Erling Haaland fight for the ball at Stamford Bridge - Ian Walton/AP

05:18pm

45+1 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

There is a chance for Chelsea at the very end of the first half as Neto delivers a deep free kick into Man City’s box. Andrey Santos is unmarked at the back post, but heads it high and wide. Man City were caught out, but Chelsea couldn’t punish them.

05:16pm

45 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Semenyo goes close for Man City. He cuts inside, gliding away from Cucurella, Neto and Palmer. From a central position, he drags a shot back towards the near post, but it takes a deflection and trickles just wide.

05:12pm

42 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Cucurella and Neto double up on Silva to win the ball back for Chelsea, before Caicedo tempts Rodri into conceding a foul inside the hosts’ penalty area. Chelsea have defended very well as a unit so far.

05:10pm

39 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

There are sarcastic cheers from the Chelsea fans as Semenyo is booked for tripping Neto. O’Reilly then does excellently to burst away from Estevao and advance into Chelsea’s penalty area. He picks out Cherki on the edge of the box, but the 22-year-old curls a tame effort straight at Sanchez.

05:07pm

36 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

It’s been a jittery first half from Donnarumma. He did make a good save to deny Neto but he’s not been comfortable receiving back passes under pressure, there were a couple of deeply unconvincing punches clear when it seemed far easier to catch the ball and just now he momentarily hesitated coming out to clear a long ball then re-engaged at the last moment before Joao Pedro could get to it. It gave Guardiola a fright on the touchline.

05:05pm

34 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Joao Pedro knocks the ball over the Man City defence on the halfway line and chases his own pass. Donnarumma initially hesitates, but has to rush out of his area to clear. Doku and O’Reilly then link up well on Man City’s left-wing, with the Englishman fizzing a cross into the box. Silva reaches it and his placed effort forces Sanchez into a smart save. Haaland was lurking and looking for a rebound but Sanchez does well to gather.

05:03pm

32 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Man City are still waiting to record their first shot on target.

Erling Haaland battles against Wesley Fofana for the ball - Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC

05:00pm

29 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Once again, Rodri gives the ball away, and Gusto latches onto the mistake. The Chelsea full-back whips a menacing cross into the box, aiming for Joao Pedro. However, the former Brighton man is being closely tracked by Guehi and can’t get onto the end of the cross.

04:57pm

27 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Doku leads a Man City counter and dribbles at the Chelsea backline. With Haaland and Cherki in support, he can’t quite unleash the pass and the attack fizzles out.

04:56pm

25 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Haaland, Cherki and Semenyo have been spectators in these opening 25 minutes. Meanwhile, Joao Pedro, Palmer and Neto have all been heavily involved. Nevertheless, the score remains goalless.

04:54pm

23 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Man City are not playing like a team embroiled in an intense title race. They’ve been slightly lethargic and second to most balls. Chelsea have made an intense and purposeful start.

04:50pm

19 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Neto glides away from Nunes, before barging Rodri off the ball to advance into the penalty area. From an unfavourable angle, Neto fires a powerful shot at goal, forcing Donnarumma into a low save. Chelsea have undoubtedly started better and Rodri is struggling to deal with the pace of the home side’s attack.

04:47pm

GOAL! Chelsea score, but the flag is up

It’s wonderful play from Joao Pedro, who drops deep to pick up the ball, before dancing around three or four Man City players. He spots Cucurella’s run and threads a ball through to the Spaniard, who from inside the penalty area, slams a clinical one-on-one effort into the bottom corner. The offside flag is up straight away and Man City survive.

04:44pm

13 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Estevao gets a silly yellow card after he kicks the ball away, feeling he was fouled. Meanwhile, Guardiola isn’t best pleased with his side’s complacent start.

Guardiola has done a lot of throwing his arms up in the last couple of minutes, unhappy with how his team are sloppily turning over the ball inside their own third.

04:42pm

12 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Fernandez is in attendance

Meanwhile Enzo Fernandez, serving the second of his two-game club imposed ban for talking, is sitting in sunglasses taking it all in.

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez (second right) watches on as he continues to serve his suspension - John Walton/PA

04:41pm

10 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Palmer has been tormenting Rodri in these opening ten minutes. The playmaker gracefully turns the Man City man, who cynically pulls his shirt. It should be a yellow card, but Rodri escapes a booking.

04:39pm

9 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Rodri is careless in possession and his pass is intercepted by Palmer, who slips a ball through to Joao Pedro. The Chelsea striker cannot outpace Khusanov, and his shot deflects out for a corner, which Man City deal with.

04:36pm

6 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Chelsea fly forward on the counter as Palmer plays in Neto, who gives the ball back to the Englishman. Palmer then glides away from Rodri like he’s not even there, but from a tight angle, he slams a powerful effort into the side netting.

Cole Palmer has just shown what a threat he can be as Chelsea counter dangerously after Manchester City have dominated the opening exchanges. There were a few boos from the City fans when their former player got the ball - plus a chant of “City reject’ after his shot struck the side-netting.

04:34pm

4 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Man City take the corner short and after a few passes a cross is eventually swung into the box. Doku is unmarked at the back post and directs the ball across the six-yard box, aiming for Haaland. However, Fofana is there to make a crucial interception and stop the Man City striker from netting a tap-in.

04:33pm

3 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0

Fofana and Hato get an early reminder of how hard it is to contain Haaland, as he muscles both Chelsea defenders off the ball. Cucurella then does well to halt Antoine Semenyo’s run and knock the ball out for a corner.

04:30pm

Kick-off

Man City get us under way in the capital.

04:27pm

The teams are out

Chelsea and Man City emerge from the tunnel and enter the pitch at Stamford Bridge, with kick-off just minutes away.

04:24pm

Can Man City end their run of Premier League draws?

Man City have dropped points in their previous two league matches, drawing against Nottingham Forest (2-2) and West Ham United (1-1). There can be no more errors in their pursuit of the title.

04:21pm

Other Premier League results

Friday 10th April

West Ham United 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Saturday 11th April

Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 2

Brentford 2 Everton 2

Burnley 0 Brighton 2

Liverpool 2 Fulham 0

04:12pm

Tottenham Hotspur remain in the relegation zone

Spurs have suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge. Nordi Mukiele’s 61st-minute strike was enough for Sunderland to claim the three points, while Spurs stay 18th, two points behind West Ham United in 17th.

Other Premier League results from Sunday’s 14:00 games:

Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle United 1

Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 1

Roberto De Zerbi has lost his first game in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, leaving the club inside the relegation zone - Scott Heppell/REUTERS

04:05pm

Man City’s main man

Erling Haaland netted a devastating hat-trick in Man City’s comfortable 4-0 victory over Liverpool in their previous outing. He’s out on the Stamford Bridge turf, with kick-off less than 30 minutes away.

04:02pm

Marc Cucurella is in from the start

As one of the most senior members of an inexperienced squad, Cucurella returns to the starting 11 in a pivotal fixture for the club.

Marc Cucurella claps the fans as he enters the pitch for Chelsea’s warm up - Isabel Infantes/REUTERS

03:52pm

What happened the last time they met?

It was January 2026 and Chelsea were in turmoil, having just sacked Enzo Maresca. They arrived at the Etihad Stadium as the underdogs, and after Tijjani Reijnders’ first half opener, it looked like were on a route to a definite defeat. However, Enzo Fernandez snatched a 94th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for Chelsea, who were under Calum McFarlane’s temporary charge.

Enzo Fernandez scored a late equaliser for Chelsea to rescue a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in their previous meeting - Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Sport

03:46pm

Chelsea’s long winless run against Man City

Chelsea haven’t beaten Man City since their 1-0 victory in the 2021 Champions League final. It’s been 12 matches and everything has changed at Chelsea since then.

Thomas Tuchel was the Chelsea manager the last time the club beat Manchester City back in 2021 - SUSANA VERA/Pool via REUTERS

03:39pm

Marc Guehi returns to Chelsea

Guehi spent over a decade of his career at Chelsea, mostly in the academy before a brief spell with the first team. However, he failed to nail down a place in the senior squad, and after a successful loan spell with Swansea City, he joined Crystal Palace in 2021.

At Selhurst Park, Guehi emerged into one of the Premier League’s most consistent and talented centre-backs. This earned the defender a deserved move to Man City, where he has settled in brilliantly.

Manchester City’s Marc Guehi arrives at Stamford Bridge ahead of a match against his former club Chelsea - John Walton/PA

03:32pm

Bernardo Silva makes history

Man City captain Silva breaks a record.

03:30pm

Chelsea arrive at Stamford Bridge

03:28pm

The line-ups in full

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Santos, Estevao, Palmer, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro.

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Adarabioyo, Delap, Essugo, Sarr, Acheampong, Guiu, Lavia, Garnacho.

Man City: Donnarumma, Matheus Luiz, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Silva, Rodri, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh

03:17pm

Man City team news

Pep Guardiola has made just the one change to the team which beat Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup. It comes in goal, with Gianluigi Donnarumma replacing James Trafford.

03:17pm

Chelsea team news

Liam Rosenior has named two changes to the team which smashed Port Vale. Moises Caicedo returns to captain the side, while Marc Cucurella comes in at left-back. This means that Tosin Adarabioyo and Romeo Lavia drop to the bench.

03:15pm

Can Man City capitalise on Arsenal’s wobble?

Arsenal’s surprising 2-1 loss at home to Bournemouth will give Man City some serious added motivation. A win against Chelsea would put Man City six points behind Arsenal, with another game in hand. Man City and Arsenal will also play each other next weekend in a match which could decide the title.

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday to dent their title bid - Robin Jones/AFC Bournemouth

03:10pm

Chelsea still without Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez is serving the second match of his two-game suspension, after making public comments hinting that would welcome a move to Real Madrid in the future.

Since then, the 25-year-old has held peace talks and apologised to the club for his actions, according to his agent Javier Pastore.

Liam Rosenior has stood firm by his punishment, and Chelsea will be without their vice-captain, who would have undoubtedly played if he was available.

Chelsea will be without Enzo Fernandez against Manchester City - Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC

03:00pm

A massive match for both sides

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s 7-0 thrashing of Port Vale in last weekend’s FA Cup action ended the club’s dismal run of four consecutive defeats across all competitions. However, the spotlight is still firmly shining on Liam Rosenior and his underperforming side.

The Premier League table is beginning to look extremely precarious for Chelsea, who currently sit sixth, just four points ahead of 13th-place Sunderland (as it stands). Missing out on European football would be a disaster for this controversial project, which is struggling to appease one of world football’s most demanding fanbases.

Nevertheless, Chelsea are only four points adrift of Liverpool in fifth and need a positive result to strengthen their bid for Champions League football. Back-to-back Premier League losses without scoring against Newcastle United and Everton have left the club on the verge of stumbling into mid-table mediocrity, which no one at Chelsea will gracefully accept.

Arsenal’s dreadful 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon has opened the door for Man City to seriously ramp up the pressure in the title race.

Ahead of kick-off, Pep Guardiola’s side are nine points behind Arsenal, having played two fewer matches. With Man City hosting Mikel Arteta’s men in the Premier League next weekend, this is a golden opportunity for today’s visitors to close the gap and flex their title-winning muscles.

Man City arrive at Stamford Bridge brimming with confidence after registering successive victories against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo have been in stunning form recently as Man City appear to be hitting their stride at the business end of the season.

This could be a potentially season-defining match for the Premier League title race and in the battle for Champions League football.

Kick-off is at 16:30, with the line-ups on the way shortly.

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