Manchester City

City's win may not have been as emphatic as Liverpool's magnificent 5-0 victory here in United's last home league game but the gulf between the sides was certainly as wide.

Solskjaer and United got off to the worst possible start when Eric Bailly turned Joao Cancelo's cross into his own net after seven minutes and it was only the brilliance of keeper David de Gea that somehow kept City at bay until the final seconds of the first half.

City, who made nine changes for the game, could still secure the title this weekend if second-placed Manchester United lose at Aston Villa tomorrow.

With three games left to play Pep Guardiola' side are 13 points ahead of United, who have five games remaining.

United have three games coming up in five days, and even if they win all three City would win the title by beating Newcastle next weekend.

Today's game also offered something of a preview of the Champions League final between the two sides, although both Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel left out key players.

Pep Guardiola's side were totally dominant but missing a cutting edge until Aguero's stunning half-volley finish just before the hour mark broke Palace's resolve at Selhurst Park.

A minute later Ferran Torres's clinical low shot doubled City's advantage and they could have racked up a bigger margin of victory as they turned on the style with Raheem Sterling denied by the woodwork and Joao Cancelo also going close.

PSG went ahead courtesy of a Marquinhos header in the first half, but Mauricio Pochettino's side lost control after the break with De Bruyne and Mahrez finding the back of the net in the space of eight minutes to secure City's 18th consecutive away win in all competitions.

Last year's runners-up PSG then found themselves with a higher mountain to climb as Idrissa Gueye picked up a straight red card in the 77th minute for a reckless challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

Efforts to leave come just two days after both were announced as two of six English clubs to sign up to the controversial new competition.

There are also reports that Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward has quit.

The ESL has been widely criticised since being announced on Sunday.

Around 1000 fans gathered outside Chelsea's Stamford Bridge home ground before their game against Brighton on Tuesday to protest their involvement.

The Six Premier League clubs feature among the founding members, along with Spain's Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and Italy's Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan, the organisation, called Super League, said in a statement.

The move, which has been heavily criticised by football authorities and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, sets up a rival to UEFA's Champions League competition.

Three more clubs will join the Super League for the inaugural season, with a further five teams to qualify.

Ziyech scored in the 55th minute when he tapped into an empty net from a cross by Timo Werner with City goalkeeper Zack Steffen in no man's land after racing off his line to close Werner down but then seeming to change his mind.

The win at Wembley leaves Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel on course for a trophy after engineering a remarkable turnaround since he replaced Frank Lampard in January, with the Blues also in the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid.

City's 21-match winning streak in all competitions was ended with a 2-nil loss to United earlier this week but normal service has now resumed with City going 14 points clear at the top of the competition.

City have 68 points from 29 games with Manchester United on 54 from one game fewer.

Southampton have 33 points from 28 games and are only seven points above the relegation zone after a ninth defeat in 11 games.

Photo file Reuters

Cheltenham came close to one of the biggest shocks in the 150-year history of the FA Cup before Pep Guardiola's City team scored three late goals on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).

A long throw-in from Cheltenham captain Ben Tozer caused a mix-up in the City defence and Alfie May seized on a deflection to stab the ball into the net.

Ferran Torres added a third in stoppage time to ensure City moves on to play Swansea in the fifth round.

İlkay Gündoğan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne scored in a devastating 16-minute first-half spell as City rose to fifth in the standings despite coronavirus cases depleting the squad.

Chelsea is only three points behind City but has played two games more and the manner of this defeat will be alarming to notoriously impatient owner Roman Abramovich.

The absence of any crowd due to coronavirus restrictions spared Lampard from any negativity from his own fans at least.