Manchester City have wrapped up the Premier League title even before they have taken on Chelsea later today.
City host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday at 4pm and will collect the Premier League trophy after the match. The title win was confirmed on Saturday evening when Arsenal were beaten by Nottingham Forest – it marks a fifth title in the space of six years for Pep Guardiola’s outfit.
While City fans will celebrate more silverware, Chelsea sit 11th in the table after a dismal campaign which has seen them have three bosses. Lampard is in caretaker charge until the end of the season, with Mauricio Pochettino expected to be named as the club’s new permanent boss.
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Here’s what the pundits have had to say ahead of Sunday afternoon’s encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
Chris Sutton (BBC Sport)
“I was at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday and Manchester City’s performance levels against Real Madrid were just amazing. I was expecting City to dominate the ball and territory but I thought Madrid would carry a threat at times, and they really didn’t.
“City are going to want to go out and smash Chelsea regardless of whether they needed to win this game to seal a hat-trick of titles.
“That’s what I think will happen, too. From what I have seen of Chelsea, they don’t have an identity, or much of a plan. They have got some very good individual players but they are not a team and there are times when they look like a mess.
“City will make some changes and bring in people like Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez, but they will still win easily.”
Sutton’s prediction: Manchester City 5-0 Chelsea
Mark Lawrenson (PaddyPower)
“Manchester City’s performance against Real Madrid was amazing. That was what football’s all about.
“They way they made Madrid look ordinary… they’re in such a run of form. When you keep winning games you can play every single day, nobody seems to get tired. I think Chelsea might keep the score down, but I don’t fancy them to win.”
Lawrenson’s prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
Paul Merson (Sportskeeda)
“[City] are head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. The sooner they get the Premier League title race done with, the sooner they can focus on the FA Cup and the Champions League final.
“They look dangerous and I don’t know how any team is going to stop them. They’re starting to make the Premier League look like the Bundesliga with the gulf in class between them and the rest of the league.
“Arsenal have outdone themselves to remain in the title race for as long as they have. Newcastle, at third, are 16 points behind City [going into the weekend]. That’s ridiculous.
“I’d be flabbergasted if they don’t win the treble and I predict only one-way traffic here against Chelsea.”
Merson’s prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Chelsea
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