Chelsea defeats Manchester City to crown Liverpool Premier League champions

Chelsea tightens grip on their top-four hopes

With Manchester United and Wolves closing the gap at the summit of the table this week, Chelsea’s win against Manchester City was a momentous result and also hugely significant in the race for the top four.

It was a convincing response, and not just because of a result that moves the Blues five points clear of the teams immediately below them.

They showed impressive resolve and organization at the back in the spells when City was on top, but also always looked dangerous at the other end.

Pulisic’s pace on the break was a big part of that but Chelsea carved out plenty of other chances, with Ederson brilliantly denying Andreas Christensen and Mason Mount wasting a glorious opening from a poor clearance by the City keeper.

Facts and stats from the game

• 2019-20 is the third of the last six Premier League seasons to see the title decided in a match played at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea v Crystal Palace in 2014-15 and Chelsea v Tottenham in 2015-16), and the fourth of those six to be decided in a game involving Chelsea (also West Brom v Chelsea in 2016-17).
• Chelsea has won back-to-back Premier League home games against Manchester City for the first time since the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
• Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suffered his fourth defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – across all competitions, the only away venue he has lost as many games at in his managerial career is Anfield (four against Liverpool).
• Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic scored his seventh goal of the Premier League season; the most of any player in the competition aged 21 or under.
• Kevin De Bruyne’s goal was his 16th from outside the box in the Premier League; the most of any player in the competition since his Manchester City debut in September 2015.