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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Rob Smyth

Manchester City crowned Premier League champions after 3-2 win over Aston Villa – as it happened

Villa EPL Aston Villa Pep Guardiola Steven Gerrard Stuart Pearce

We’re going to wrap this blog up now. It’s been a famous day for Manchester City, who went through an emotional spin cycle before scoring three goals in six increasingly delirious minutes to win their fourth title in five years.

I’ll leave you with Dave Hytner’s match report from the Etihad. Thanks for your company and emails, not just today but throughout another intense and memorable Premier League season. Goodnight!

Here’s that footage of Robin Olsen being attacked

The final Premier League table

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 73 93
2 Liverpool 38 68 92
3 Chelsea 38 43 74
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 29 71
5 Arsenal 38 13 69
6 Man Utd 38 0 58
7 West Ham 38 9 56
8 Leicester 38 3 52
9 Brighton 38 -2 51
10 Wolverhampton 38 -5 51
11 Newcastle 38 -18 49
12 Crystal Palace 38 4 48
13 Brentford 38 -8 46
14 Aston Villa 38 -2 45
15 Southampton 38 -24 40
16 Everton 38 -23 39
17 Leeds 38 -37 38
18 Burnley 38 -19 35
19 Watford 38 -43 23
20 Norwich 38 -61 22

Jack Grealish never gives a bad interview, so he was always going to be good value on a day like today.

Kevin De Bruyne’s reaction

We’ve just seen footage of Robin Olsen being attacked. He was manhandled by at least four morons, possibly more. This is becoming a serious problem for English football.

Roy Keane has just seen my ‘morons’ and raised it to ‘idiots... scumbags’. Who am I to disagree.

Updated

Relive the torment drama

Updated

For the second time in four seasons Liverpool have finished a point behind City in an epic title race. Here’s Jonathan Wilson on why there should be no recriminations at Anfield.

Another plug for David Hytner’s report of City’s epic comeback

Here’s more on the news that the Villa keeper Robin Olsen was hurt during the post-match pitch invasion

Updated

Oleksandr Zinchenko speaks

“It’s unforgettable emotions for me, for all Ukrainians. They are starving, they are surviving in my country because of Russian aggression. I’m so proud to be Ukrainian. One day I would love to bring this trophy back for all Ukrainian people, because they deserve it.

“[The support from within the club] means everything for me, honestly. I would die for these people – what they have done for me during this period, the toughest period of my life, I will never forget this.”

Updated

Agueroooo: the sequel

Nothing will ever top the events of 13 May 2012, but this was a hell of an effort.

3-2: City's history repeating

Manchester City now have two last-gasp, final-day, title-winning, 3-2 wins to remember. Ten years and nine days earlier, on 13 May 2012, City were 2-1 behind against Queen's Park Rangers in added time. Edin Dzeko levelled the scores before Sergio Agüero scored the most famous goal in Manchester City's – and the Premier League's – history on 93 minutes and 20 seconds. That sealed City's first Premier League title for 34 years. Agüero's goal celebration is immortalised in a statue outside the Etihad Stadium.  

-

Updated

Oleksandr Zinchenko is in tears, a Ukraine flag wrapped round his shouders. We can try to empathise with what’s going on in his head but I doubt any of us will ever understand it.

Zinchenko was excellent when he came on at half-time - he gave City more width and penetration, and calmly made the second goal for Rodri.

Updated

Pep Guardiola speaks

“The last game is always emotional. Villa are a good team, they gave everything, but the moment we found a goal it changed everything.

“I told the players at half-time that the tension was normal [on the final day]. It’s not a normal situation but you have to handle that. Alex [Oleksandr Zinchenko] gave us a lot in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

“Ilkay Gundogan is the best runner in second positions that we have. We were getting down the sides with Raheem, with Joao, with Alex, and we needed people with the sense of the tempo... In the final third, he is the best.

“We are legends. When you win in this country, four times in five years, it’s because these guys are so, so special. We will be remembered... Wow, winning at home with our people - it’s the best!

“[On the criticism of not having a centre-forward] It’s part of the job. Listen, if you don’t want to be judged, don’t do a public job.

“The magnitude of the achievement is related to the magnitude of your rival. I have never seen a team like Liverpool in my life. I know it’s tough, but big congratulations - they have helped us to be a better team, season by season.

“Today is special, because it’s the fifth anniversary [of the Manchester Arena attack]. Twenty two people were killed... for their families, of course today was special for our people. We spoke about that, and the guys did it.

“[Will you sign a new contract?] I’m sorry, I don’t have the energy or desire to think about next season. It was a tough two months with the Champions League and the Premier League. But we are champions again! We’ll defend our crown again and again...”

Updated

Pep Guardiola has his arms round Gabriel Jesus. Knowing him he’s probably already looking to next season, trying to persuade Jesus to stay. Guardiola has received quite a lot of criticism in the last couple of months, some of it legitimate, but anyone who doesn’t think he’s one of the greatest managers of all time needs to give their noggin a wobble. This is his tenth league title, and he’s only 51 years old.

Last up, after his final game as a City player, is the club captain Fernandinho. He walks over to his mates, crouches down and then lifts the trophy as high as his arms will allow. Manchester City are the champions of England!

Fernandinho of Manchester City lifts the Premier League trophy.
Fernandinho of Manchester City lifts the Premier League trophy. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
City’s players and staff celebrate.
City’s players and staff celebrate. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Updated

The players are all walking up to receive their medals. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nathan Ake are doing a silly dance, Jack Grealish has his shorts even higher than usual. Other players are milling around, waiting for the big moment. It’s a lovely scene, full of warmth and joy.

On the pitch invasion Apparently Steven Gerrard has said that Robin Olsen, the Villa goalkeeper, was hurt during the pitch invasion at the final whistle. I’m sure we’ll hear more about that.

Some of the fans on the pitch at the final whistle.
Some of the fans on the pitch at the final whistle. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

A smiling Pep Guardiola leads out the champions, both arms raised in the air. Now he’s clenching his fists to all four corners of the stadium. We’ve rarely seen him as emotionally naked as this.

This is City’s fourth title in five years, a level of dominance that brooks no argument. The next challenge, at least domestically, is to make it three in a row, and then maybe set a new English record by winning four on the bounce.

Updated

Now it’s time for all the first-team coaching staff to walk out. Pep Guardiola is waiting in the tunnel, having a chat with Richard Wright before he goes out.

The pitch has been cleared and the title presentation is about to begin. First out are all the City staff, and there’s an army of them.

How to celebrate winning the title, with Roy Maurice Keane

“Did you enjoy celebrations like this Roy, when it was all over?”

“Oh yeah, back in the day you’d drink as much as you could for a few weeks.”

Here is David Hytner’s match report from the Etihad:

Updated

A breathless Ilkay Gundogan speaks

“There’s something of Luis Enrique about Gundogan,” says Phil Podolsky. “Incredibly versatile, great at getting into the box from midfield unmarked, big game player.”

I assumed Bernardo Silva was injured, but I was probably guilty of underestimating Gundogan again.

“Congratulations to City,” says Liverpool fan Matt Dony. “They deserve the title. They’ve been brilliant. Obviously, Liverpool have been brilliant, too. But City have just been a tiny bit brillianter. It’s horrible that it comes down to such tiny margins, but this is football. That wonderful, awful, magnificent, horrible sport. This is exactly the outcome I expected, but the way it played out was nail/finger/arm-biting. But today is about City. And my hat is off to them.”

The ribbons are on the trophy.
The ribbons are on the trophy. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Updated

There are thousands of fans still on the pitch. They’ve broken one of the crossbars, though I think that’s the extent of the disorder. It’s a euphoric scene, as you’d expect. The poor fella on the tannoy is pleading for them to do one so that the team can be presented with the trophy. I suspect it will take a while.

it’s all got a bit too exciting for some fans.
It’s all got a bit too exciting for some fans. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Updated

Look at his face! Just look at his face!

This footage of Pep Guardiola at the final whistle is fantastic.

Ilkay Gundogan has spent his career being the guy behind the guy. Even last season, when his spurt of goals catalysed City’s march to the title, Ruben Dias won all the individual honours. Today his substitution barely registered – partly because he wasn’t Jack Grealish, mainly because Philippe Coutinho made it 2-0 as soon as he came on.

Gundogan has always been a Swiss Army knife of a midfielder, and today City were in urgent need of his goal threat. The two finishes were simple, open goals really, but only because of the quality and timing of his runs into the penalty area. Before today he was a much-loved, thoroughly admirable footballer. Now he is a City legend.

All three substitutes made a big difference – Raheem Sterling created the first goal and Oleksandr Zinchenko set up the second for Rodri. And finally, the inevitable Kevin De Bruyne showed his power, personality and class to make the winner for Gundogan.

Updated

Pep Guardiola and his staff are going doolally, and there are hundreds of fans on the pitch. Now Guardiola is in tears, and he has charged straight down the tunnel.

City were facing humiliation when Philippe Coutinho made it 2-0 to Villa after 69 minutes. As it turned out, the key moment happened seconds before that: the introduction of Ilkay Gundogan. He scored the first and the third as City produced an incredible sequel to the Aguerooooo moment ten years ago. That day they scored twice in injury time; today it was three in six spine-tingling minutes.

Here come the fans...
Here come the fans... Photograph: Dave Thompson/AP

Updated

MANCHESTER CITY ARE CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND FOR THE EIGHTH TIME!

Full time: Manchester City 3-2 Aston Villa After the mother, father and extended family of all scares, Manchester City are champions!

Phil Foden celebrates winning the league,
Phil Foden’s rather happy as the final whistle goes. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
What a day.
What a day. Photograph: Dave Thompson/AP

Updated

90+3 min Jesus takes the ball to the corner. City, the masters of keeping the ball, need to do that now more than ever.

90+3 min Ederson is going to continue, though he is still grimacing and feeling his hamstring.

90+2 min Ederson is still being treated. City might have to put an outfield player in goal here - if it’s a hamstring, he will struggle to leap or dive.

90+1 min Foden is down with cramp. Ederson is also down with a hamstring problem, though the ball is in the Villa half. This is a concern for City; he doesn’t look good at all and they’ve used all three substitutes.

90+1 min City are four added minutes from the title.

90 min Liverpool have scored again at Anfield, though it doesn’t change City’s position.

88 min Villa bring on Ashley Young for a weary Emi Buendia. I bet Young is thrilled to be involved in this.

Updated

88 min City are trying to pass the clock down, though there’s still a frantic feel to the game.

87 min Nakamba is booked for booting someone.

87 min And after all that, City are winning 3-2, same as against QPR in 2012.

85 min Danny Ings, another ex-Liverpool player, has come on for Jacob Ramsey.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Wolves (Salah 84)

It’s not over yet - Liverpool have done their job, so City need to hold on to their 3-2 lead.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 73 93
2 Liverpool 38 67 92
3 Chelsea 38 42 72
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 29 71
5 Arsenal 38 13 69

Updated

City have scored three times in six minutes to take the lead! And Ilkay Gundogan, whose substitution barely registered, has scored two of them! It was made quite magnificently by Kevin De Bruyne. He beat Douglas Luiz to a loose ball on the edge of the area, marched past Mings and slid one of his trademark, devastating balls across the six-yard box. Gundogan arrived beyond the far post to tap it gleefully into the net!

This is spine-tingling stuff, even for the neutrals. And if City win the league, that rampant assist from De Bruyne will go down in City folklore.

Updated

GOAL! Man City 3-2 Aston Villa (Gundogan 81)

TAKE YOUR AGUERO MOMENT AND STICK IT IN YOUR MEMORY BOX!

Ilkay Gundogan scores the third City goal!
Ilkay Gundogan scores the third City goal! Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Gündoğan celebrates with his delirious team-mates.
Gündoğan celebrates with his delirious team-mates. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

80 min SHOW ME THE BLOODY AS IT STANDS TABLE.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 72 91
2 Liverpool 38 66 90
3 Chelsea 38 43 74
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 29 71
5 Arsenal 38 12 69

City have scored two in three minutes to move within one goal of the title! Zinchenko zipped infield from the left and laid a simple pass back to Rodri on the edge of the area. He opened his body to slide a low shot that beat Olsen and sneaked inside the near post! It wasn’t the most powerful strike, but it could not have been more precise.

All three substitutes have been involved in the two goals.

GOAL! Man City 2-2 Aston Villa (Rodri 78)

What the actual devil is happening?!

Rodri scores the second City goal.
Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Oh my!
Oh my! Photograph: Dave Thompson/AP

Updated

77 min De Bruyne’s corner is headed down by Stones and claimed comfortably by Olsen.

Two of the substitutes have combined to give City some hope. Sterling scurried past Digne and lifted an outstanding cross to the far post. It cleared Olsen and Cash and was headed in from close range by Gundogan.

GOAL! Man City 1-2 Aston Villa (Gundogan 76)

One down, two to go!

İlkay Gündoğan heads home Manchester City’s first goal.
Game on? Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
İlkay Gündoğan heads home Manchester City’s first goal.
Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

74 min City are still top of the league on goal difference, though that will change if, and surely when, Liverpool take the lead at Anfield.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 70 90
2 Liverpool 38 66 90
3 Chelsea 38 43 74
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 29 71
5 Arsenal 38 12 69

Updated

73 min: Chance for De Bruyne! Sterling picks out De Bruyne, who lifts the bouncing ball over the bar from 15 yards. I think Sterling was offside in the build up anyway.

73 min I’m not the only one whose brain is frazzled - Gary Neville has just said it’s time to bring Jack Grealish on, even though City have used all their subs.

Updated

73 min “If Mahrez had scored that penalty City wouldn’t really have needed a draw,” says David Brook, “just to avoid a six-goal swing in goal difference.”

You’re right - I was so frazzled that I got it all mixed up.

Updated

72 min Villa bring on Marvelous Nakamba for Coutinho.

This is utterly surreal. Olsen’s goalkick was nodded on by Watkins to Coutinho, who took it inside Laporte with a glorious first touch and then dragged a shot past Ederson at the near post. That’s a brilliant goal from Coutinho, a majestic two-touch finish, and it could be the most famous goal of his Liverpool career!

GOAL! Man City 0-2 Aston Villa (Coutinho 69)

Philippe Coutinho may have won the title for Liverpool!

Wow!
Wow! Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Updated

69 min City substitution: Gundogan for Bernardo. City have used all their substitutes.

68 min ... And De Bruyne curls the free-kick a few yards wide. Olsen had it covered.

67 min Rodri is fouled just outside the area by Coutinho...

67 min Foden’s cross is controlled beautifully on the turn by Jesus, whose shot is excellently blocked by Chambers.

66 min Ilkay Gundogan is about to come on for Bernardo Silva, which a) suggests an injury and b) means we won’t see Jack Grealish. This was made for him.

65 min City still aren’t creating chances. And for the first time in the match, their heads are starting to go down. An equaliser would change everything, as it did against QPR a decade ago. But right here, right now, they look in serious trouble.

63 min Had Mahrez scored that penalty at West Ham, City would only need a draw today. Instead they need all three points, assuming Liverpool get a winner against Wolves.

62 min A loose ball almost falls for Coutinho in the area. City have been very nervous defensively.

61 min There’s a break in play while Watkins receives treatment for something or other.

60 min Robin Olsen still hasn’t had a difficult save to make. City have only one change left - you’d think it will Jack Grealish, though I doubt Guardiola will want to risk it this early in the second half. This is the kind of game where you want Grealish to find an eye in the needle.

58 min Sterling’s cutback is blocked by the sliding Mings. It’s all City now, though Villa remain a serious threat on their occasional counter-attacks.

57 min Here’s the top of the table as things stand.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 71 90
2 Liverpool 38 66 90
3 Chelsea 38 43 74
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 26 71
5 Arsenal 38 11 69

56 min: City substitution Raheem Sterling replaces Riyad Mahrez, who has had a subdued game on the back of his missed penalty at West Ham.

55 min: What a chance for Villa! Watkins gives everyone a coronary by charging through on goal and shooting just wide. The flag went up subsequently - but replays showed he was in his own half and therefore onside! Had he scored, and he should have done, it would have counted! The chance came straight from an Olsen goalkick.

Updated

54 min City have been much better since half-time, both their shape and their intensity. But they are now 36 rather than 45 minutes away from ignominy.

51 min Rodri smashes a few yards wide from distance. Meanwhile, at Anfield, Sadio Mane has had a goal disallowed for offside. It’s still Liverpool 1-1 Wolves.

Updated

50 min: Chances plural for City! Zinchenko swerves past three Villa players, gets to the byline and then tries to guide the ball back to Mahrez in front of goal. He is caught slightly on his heels, which allows Digne to clear.

Then, moments later, Jesus misses from four yards! Cancelo put in a devastating cross from the right, and Jesus lobbed it over on the stretch. He went with his wrong foot, the right.

What a miss for Man City!
What a miss for Man City! Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Updated

49 min Mings is booked for fouling someone in a blue shirt.

48 min Foden’s cross is only partially cleared by Digne. It bounces up towards De Bruyne, 12 yards out but he hooks it over the bar. He couldn’t quite over the ball, even with his technique.

46 min Foden flashes a ball across the face of goal, though no City players were anywhere near it.

46 min Peep peep! City are 45 minutes away from either glory or despair.

Half-time substitution for City Oleksandr Zinchenko is coming on for Fernandinho, with Joao Cancelo moving to right-back and John Stones to centre-back. It’s almost as if that’s the team Pep Guardiola should have started with.

“Argh!!!” says Matt Dony, and he doesn’t even support City. “I didn’t see this coming either. And I’m not sure how I feel about it. It can’t happen, can it? Can it? In many ways, I’d rather have seen City storm into an early lead, and allow me to just enjoy the last day with no expectations. This is hideous.”

Half time: Manchester City 0-1 Aston Villa

Matty Cash’s header has given Aston Villa a shock lead against a surprisingly flat Manchester City. As things stand, with Liverpool drawing, City are still top of the league - but realistically they need to score at least twice in the second half or the title will be off to Anfield. And Cityitis will be back with a vengeance.

Squeaky bum time for Pep.
Squeaky bum time for Pep. Photograph: Andrew Yates/EPA

Updated

45+3 min A right-wing corner is headed straight at Olsen by Laporte. A half chance at best, and City’s first shot on target.

45+1 min Four minutes of added time. City’s attackers have woken up now, and Villa are having to defend with more desperation.

45 min That was indeed a helluva chance for Watkins. He didn’t really bully Fernandinho at all - Fernandinho just jumped past a long punt from Cash, which allowed Watkins to move through on goal. He dithered for a split second, which allowed Stones to get back, and then overran the ball.

Fernandinho in action with Ollie Watkins.
Fernandinho in action with Ollie Watkins. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

Updated

44 min De Bruyne marches impatiently past Digne on the right and slams a cross that is blocked at the near post. The ball comes back to De Bruyne, whose left-footed shot is deflected behind.

44 min We’re all friends here, so I’ll let you into a secret: I didnae see this coming.

43 min Almost a second goal for Villa! Watkins bullies Fernandinho off the ball, moves into the area but then overruns the ball under pressure from Stones. We haven’t seen a replay but that looked a helluva chance.

41 min Fernandinho plays a slightly short backpass, then takes a risk by putting hands on Watkins as he tries to chase it down. Michael Oliver doesn’t think there’s enough for a foul. Moments later, Watkins has a shot blocked desperately by Laporte.

City desperately need half-time; if they’re not careful this could get worse in the next few minutes.

Updated

39 min As things stand City are still top of the league on goal difference. But I promise you that if City don’t win today, Liverpool will win the title.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 71 90
2 Liverpool 38 66 90
3 Chelsea 38 43 74
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 26 71
5 Arsenal 38 11 69

Matty Cash has headed Aston Villa ahead! It was a good if fairly simple move. Jacob Ramsey found the overlapping Digne, whose outstanding cross was headed in from eight yards by his fellow full-back Cash. It was a really good finish from Cash: he came on the blindside of Cancelo and planted the header wide of Ederson. Actually, replays show it went through Ederson. Maybe he should have done better, though it was a pretty powerful header.

Updated

GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Aston Villa (Cash 37)

Hello!

Well, well, well.
Well, well, well.
 Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

35 min Jesus beats Mings neatly on the byline and lifts a cross that is headed clear. City look so much better when they get down the side of the Villa defence. If Kyle Walker is fit enough, he should be on at half-time.

33 min Mahrez’s cross nicks off Digne and loops dangerously towards the far post. Chambers backpedals and gets in front of Jesus to head it behind. Really good defending.

32 min The referee Michael Oliver has a word with the Villa captain Tyrone Mings about how long Robin Olsen is taking over goalkicks.

31 min: Chance for Jesus! Foden pokes the ball down the left to find Jesus in space. He moves into the area, cuts across Mings ... and then miskicks well wide of the near post.

31 min The home crowd have gone really quiet. “You’re support is effing flip,” sing the Villa fans. So far, their team have done a fine defensive job.

29 min There’s a break in play while Robin Olsen receives treatment for a time-management problem. Pep Guardiola takes the opportunity to talk tactics with Bernardo Silva.

28 min Cancelo twists Cash inside out on the left edge of the area and hits a shot that is blocked by McGinn.

26 min One problem with having John Stones at right-back is that you don’t get the same attacking threat as with Walker or Cancelo. It’s all been a bit narrow from City, which suits a Villa side who play without wide midfielders.

John Stones is playing at right-back this afternoon.
John Stones is playing at right-back this afternoon. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

Updated

25 min In a surprising development, Sadio Mane has scored at Anfield. It’s Liverpool 1-1 Wolves, and this is how the table looks.

City need to win this game, the rest is gossip.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 72 91
2 Liverpool 38 66 90
3 Chelsea 38 43 74
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 25 71
5 Arsenal 38 9 67

24 min Coutinho plays in the overlapping Digne, whose cross is punched away by Ederson. De Bruyne collects and runs 70 yards before slipping on the edge of the area. Jesus retrieves the ball and gives it to Foden, whose right-footed shot deflects just wide of the far post.

24 min Stones’ cross is deflected behind for a corner. Mahrez swings it straight into the hands of Olsen.

23 min Still no shots on target for either side. City have had around 73 per cent possession. I suppose they will think, not unreasonably, that it’s all credit in the bank and that Villa will tire in the second half.

20 min That said, City aren’t playing particularly well. Guardiola stands on the touchline applauding, hands above his head, and then signals for everyone to calm down. I’d argue City’s tempo has been too slow.

19 min The crowd are already a bit edgy. Whatever happened to Gary Cooper.

17 min Mahrez sits Cash down on the byline and slides a low cross towards De Bruyne at the far post. Digne gets to the ball first and stabs it clear.

Updated

16 min Laporte plays a loose pass that is almost intercepted by Ramsey, and there are the first rumblings of disquiet from the home crowd.

16 min “I haven’t seen anything on this, but with ten concurrent games, who - and how many people are checking VAR,” says John Barrow. “Seems like it will be difficult to catch errors as they happen. Thoughts?”

I think it’s the same as always – there’s a different VAR team for every game. The FA can afford it.

Updated

15 min For all City’s possession, Villa have looked comfortable in defence. In fact, the nerviest moments have been when Robin Olsen has had to deal with backpasses.

Phil Foden and Matty Cash.
Phil Foden and Matty Cash. Photograph: Dave Thompson/AP

Updated

14 min “With that goal at Anfield, Ederson is guaranteed the Golden Glove for this season,” writes Frank Chibundu Agu. “If he concedes though, he’ll have to share it with Allison.”

Updated

13 min Digne is okay to continue.

11 min Digne is down after wearing a Chambers cross in the face. There’s a break in play while he receives treatment.

10 min McGinn retrieves a loose ball on the right and curls in a good cross towards the six-yard line. Coutinho arrives late and launches himself at the ball, just missing with an attempted diving header. It hits Fernandinho behind him and rebounds to safety.

9 min Fernandinho drives a good pass over Chambers towards Jesus, who is just beaten to the ball by Olsen. Moments later, Olsen’s panicky clearance hits Jesus eight yards from goal and ricochets wide. That could easily have been a comedy goal.

7 min The game is taking place almost exclusively in the Villa half, though the debutant goalkeeper Robin Olsen hasn’t yet been tested.

5 min Cancelo shuffles past a defender on the edge of the area and hits a stinging shot that is blocked, I think by Chambers.

Meanwhile, for Simon McMahon, here’s the as it stands table.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 72 91
2 Liverpool 38 65 89
3 Chelsea 38 42 72
4 Tottenham Hotspur 38 24 69
5 Arsenal 38 9 67

4 min Pedro Neto has given Wolves the lead at Anfield. It’s a dramatic start but I’m not sure it really means much to City - they have to assume Liverpool will win.

3 min Chambers commits a needle foul on Foden near the corner flag on the left. De Bruyne’s inswinger is headed wide by Fernandinho in front of the near post.

2 min John Stones has indeed started at right-back, with Fernandinho in the centre.

1 min Peep peep! City kick off from right to left as we watch.

The players are out, the home fans are singing Hey Jude. It’s time to find out who wins the 2021-22 Premier League.

Five minutes to kick off!

Let’s have a bit of Blue Moon to get you all in the mood.

“Interesting that Gerrard picks both his playmakers, Buendia and Coutinho today,” says Mark Eyeington. “A bold choice and a good one. Yet for the match against Liverpool he dropped Buendia (which seemed a crazy decision given how good he’d been in the previous game). Buendia was eventually brought on as a substitute for an ineffective Coutinho. But too late to have an influence on the result. I seem to recall Gerard saying in a press interview that he wasn’t prepared to play both Buendia and Coutinho on the same pitch. Seems to have had a change of heart for this match. He’s clearly prepared to take the risk.”

What’s the worst that can happen.

Updated

Pep Guardiola’s pre-match thoughts

He really doesn’t enjoy those interviews, does he. If you want to see the real Pep, you need Wonderwall, cigars and a few bottles of Triumph Juice.

“‘...tactical subterfuge in these Twitter graphics...’” says Scott Blair, referring to an earlier entry about the Manchester City team news. “There are many things in the media which remind me I’m getting old, but imagining - say - Jock Stein warning any of his players about this particular threat is right up there.”

Or Brian Clough. “Brian, in the Twitter graphic would you like Peter Davenport as a 9 or a 10? And how are you spelling van Breukelen?”

Updated

A reminder of the teams

It looks like John Stones is going to start at right-back. Pep? PEP!

Manchester City (4-3-3) Ederson; Stones, Fernandinho, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.
Substitutes: Carson, Walker, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Grealish, Zinchenko, Palmer, McAtee

Aston Villa (4-3-2-1) Olsen; Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, J Ramsey; Buendia, Coutinho; Watkins.
Substitutes: Sinisalo, A Young, Chrisene, Nakamba, Iroegbunam, Sanson, Traore, Ings, Chukwuemeka.

Referee Michael Oliver.

Updated

Another plug for Jonathan Liew’s match preview

“On deserving the title,” says Paul McGrory. “I’m instantly shot back to 1995. Blackburn anticipating the modern day petro-giants by hoovering up all the available talent and Stuart Ripley, using unearned wealth to scrape an undeserved title solely because Eric Cantona was abused by a fan. The injustice!
“Now, though, I understand that if you’ve 45 minutes to score a goal against the team finishing 14th and you don’t, tough luck. Never mind who finishes first in a tight race, you’ll often find the team finishing second richly deserves being runners-up.”

That’s a good point. In that instance, it wasn’t just the West Ham game either – I think Man Utd had three 0-0 draws at home in the last two months of the season. (Stuart Ripley was a very good player though, I can’t let that one slide.)

“Good move having Ings on the bench,” says Liverpool fan Ian Copestake. “His xG will be the same as if he was playing.”

That’s an impressively elaborate bit of fate-tempting.

Updated

The pre-match thoughts of Steven Gerrard

Villa start the day in fourteenth place - they can’t go any lower, but they could finish as high as tenth.

Perfectionism is...

“Oooo, you have the hot one, Rob,” says Bill Hargreaves, an opening gambit that requires no additional comment from me. “Looking forward to a great afternoon. Thank you in advance.”

Don’t thank me, thank Ebenezer Cobb Morley.

Team news: Stones and Fernandinho start

Well isn’t this interesting. John Stones returns to the side, but it’s in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko rather than Fernandinho. Kyle Walker is only fit enough for the bench.

The City team graphic suggests Stones will start at right-back, though there is a burgeoning (and slightly pathetic) culture of tactical subterfuge in these Twitter graphics, so we’ll see.

Philippe Coutinho returns to the Villa side in place of Carney Chukwuemeka, one of two changes from the 1-1 draw with Burnley on Thursday. Emi Martinez is out with a knee injury, which means a debut for Everton and Sheffield United alumnus Robin Olsen.

Updated

“That David Pleat clip never gets old,” says Simon McMahon. “I’m not really fussed who wins the title today, though some high drama and regular updates of the ‘As It Stands’ table would be nice. And if either Pep or Klopp turns up in a beige suit and slip on brogues, I’d just hand the trophy to them straight away.”

This being the final day of the season, we have three liveblogs on the go. Simon Burnton is following Liverpool v Wolves, a match that will become exceedingly relevant should City mess up, and Tim de Lisle is in Jeff Stelling mode: he’s following the race for fourth, the race for 17th and everything in between.

End-of-term reports (City 9/10, Villa 6/10, since you asked so nicely)

‘Neck’ indeed

“Do City deserve the title?” says Michael Wharton. “So many chances to win it by now. Not just the penalty miss at West Ham… Not just the endless missed chances at Palace… Not just the inability to punish a clearly inferior Liverpool at the Etihad… Not just the blowing of an eight-point lead well into the new year… No surprise to me if Villa get the draw and Liverpool hammer Wolves by a country mile.”

The team that wins the league title intrinsically deserves it, discuss.

City are yet to win three titles in a row, but four in five is the next best thing. Not many teams in England have managed it: Aston Villa in the 1890s, Arsenal in the 1930s, Liverpool twice in the 1970s and 1980s (with some overlap) and Manchester United (also with some overlap) three times under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Jonathan Liew’s match preview

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester City v Aston Villa from the Etihad Stadium. In case you’ve been at a digital retreat on the Kerguelen Islands for the last month, here’s how the land lies. If City beat Villa they will be champions of England for the fourth time in five years, and Pep Guardiola will be a unique genius. If they don’t, and Liverpool win against Wolves at Anfield, City will endure the nightmare of a trophyless season - not to mention a potential Liverpool quadruple - and Pep Guardiola will be just another bald fraud in a world full of them.

In an ideal world (arf!), every title race would go the wire. The inequality of modern football means it happens less and less. Even in England, where things are relatively competitive, this is only the ninth time it has occurred in 30 years of the Premier League. On the last four occasions, starting in 2012, City have been top of the league going into the final games.

You can trace the modern history of City, and the change in their DNA, through the extreme emotions of the last day. It could be an eight-part Netflix series, with a naff subtitle: From Cityitis to City titles.

Before Abu Dhabi, City were, well, what the acronym says. They lost a relegation decider at home to Luton in 1982-83, signed their own death warrant by the corner flag in 1995-96 and put a goalkeeper up front before missing a last-minute penalty to qualify for the Uefa Cup in 2004-05.

My university friend and City fan Steve Buckley has generously pointed out some other comedy classics: the Eddie Large fiasco at Bournemouth in 1988-89 (technically that was on the penultimate weekend, but it’s too good to ignore, and what the hell let’s have a bit of Jamie Pollock while we’re here) and Stuart Pearce missing a penalty freebie – with two goalscoring records at stake - in 2001-02. A Harvard study proved categorically that, had Pearce been playing for any football club in Christendom at the time, he would have scored that penalty.

That was then and this is now. That was just nostalgia. City don’t do comedy classics anymore, certainly not domestically. Their identity changed on 13 May 2012, like Dale Cooper being possessed by Killer BOB only in reverse, when they recovered from a potentially devastating strain of Cityitis to win the Premier League in uniquely euphoric circumstances. A part of Manchester City died that day, and their fans don’t want it back.

On the next two occasions City needed a result in their final game to win the title, against West Ham in 2014 and Brighton in 2019, they dealt calmly with the pressure and had the job done after about an hour. All things being equal, it’ll be the same today. But things aren’t always equal in football, especially not on the final day. Villa getting a result is highly improbable, but it’s not impossible.

For City, the presence of Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and even Danny Ings at Villa has given this game an unnervingly whiffy narrative. The nightmare of Liverpool winning the league would be compounded if Gerrard was on the field at the final whistle, cavorting in slip-on brogues like David Pleat in 1983. But the unexpected return of Kyle Walker and John Stones will assuage the fear of watching Fernandinho, in his last game for the club, getting sent off for a professional foul on Ollie Watkins in the first 10 minutes.

Look, we shouldn’t build this game up too much. Villa could get a result, but the likely scenario is that Pep will be doing karaoke, Brobdingnagian cigar in hand, by about 10pm.

The last day of the season has never been a time for nuance. There are only two ways this can go: another City title, or the return of Cityitis.

Kick off 4pm.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 37 72 90
2 Liverpool 37 66 89
3 Chelsea 37 42 71
4 Tottenham Hotspur 37 24 68
5 Arsenal 37 9 66
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