Man City celebrate title with 1-0 victory over Chelsea
Manchester City celebrated their Premier League title yesterday, beating Chelsea 1-0 with an early goal by Julian Alvarez in their home finale at a sun-drenched Etihad Stadium.
Treble-chasing City, who wrapped up the title when Arsenal were beaten by Nottingham Forest on Saturday, have won 12 successive games in the top flight.
They have 88 points from 36 games, seven more than Arsenal from 37 games.
Frank Lampard's Chelsea are 12th with 43 points and one game remaining.
Alvarez scored in the 12th minute for a second-string City side, slipping the ball under keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from a pass by Kyle Walker.
With nothing on the line and two huge games on the horizon — the FA Cup and Champions League finals — Pep Guardiola left his big guns including goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland on the bench for most of the game.
City were crowned champions for the third season in a row and fifth in six years.
● Brighton & Hove Albion ensured they will play in Europe next season for the first time in their history after beating Southampton 3-1 at the Amex Stadium, with teenage striker Evan Ferguson scoring twice.
Brighton are sixth in the standings on 61 points and can no longer be caught by eighthplaced Tottenham Hotspur, meaning they are guaranteed a spot in Europe next season — either in the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
Brighton went ahead in the 29th minute through Ferguson’s powerful effort, which squirmed under Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
A moment of brilliance from Kaoru Mitoma doubled Brighton’s advantage 10 minutes later, as he set up Ferguson with a pinpoint cross.
Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back for Southampton in the 58th minute, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly snuffed out by Pascal Gross, who fired a low shot past two defenders inside the near post to wrap up the win.
Bottom club Southampton have already been relegated. ● West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen set up one goal and scored another in a 3-1 win at the London Stadium.
Leeds remain in the relegation zone with 31 points.
Leeds scored in the 17th minute when Weston McKennie’s throw was volleyed into the net by Rodrigo.
The home side responded when Declan Rice produced a neat finish at the back post from Bowen’s cross.
West Ham dominated possession and hit the front with 18 minutes remaining as Danny Ings slipped Bowen in on goal with an excellent pass.
The points were sealed during injury-time when Lucas Paqueta laid on a tap-in for Manuel Lanzini.