Chelsea outplayed by Manchester City yet again as Pep's men zero-in ominously on flagging Arsenal

Up against his old team - Cole Palmer adorns the match programme

Premier League

Chelsea (0) 0

Manchester City (0) 3 O'Reilly 51, Guehi 57, Doku 68

Chelsea's decent first-half showing paled into insignificance as Man City went up the gears to secure the win which takes them to within six points of Arsenal in the title race.

It leaves the Blues with much work to do if they are to claim a Champions League spot by finishing in the top five places. They remain four points behind Liverpool, who occupy that final qualifying place at present.

One of Chelsea's final six games is at Anfield on May 9 - a game that could prove vital. But who knows what state Liam Rosenior's men will be in by then, given the obvious dressing room issues. Enzo Fernandez was missing for disciplinary reasons, having made comments suggesting he is open to a summer move.

City ended up cruising it. They upped the ante immediately after the restart after a subdued first half showing and never looked back, totally controlling the game after taking the lead, claiming the points with ease.

Jeremy Doku fed Erling Haaland for what seemed a clear chance until Jorrel Hato dived in to block superbly, but it was just a warning. Very soon, City had the lead as Nico O'Reilly - whose double won City the League Cup a couple of weeks ago - guided in a header from six yards from a nicely flighted chip in from the right by Rayan Cherki.

Not long after, the lead doubled as Cherki worked his way from left to right before feeding Marc Guehi inside the area and the former Crystal Palace defender made no mistake with a shot into the far corner.

And it became 3-0 when Moises Caicedo had his pocket picked 25 yards out by Doku and the winger raced on unimpeded to beat the exposed Robert Sanchez. Three goals in 17 minutes. It was emphatic.

If there was any consolation for shell-shocked home fans, it was that this win further imperils the title ambitions of the increasingly demoralised Gunners.

The result was maybe not much of a surprise, given that the Blues have not beaten City in 13 games now since the famous Champions League final win in Porto. They are also in pretty ropey form, with five defeats in six games. Only a hapless Port Vale have been beaten of late.

But it was also no surprise, given how City have suddenly raised their level. They look to have all sorts of goals in them now and the psychological damage of their Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal is obvious. Even with six points still to make up, it feels like they are favourites in the title race now.

Chelsea found a lot of joy down the left in the opening passages of play, which was to prove illusory. Cole Palmer struck the side-netting. Pedro Neto's angled shot forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a low save. Marc Cucurella also popped up in that channel to slam in a Joao Pedro pass but was just offside.

City did not play like a side with a massive incentive in front of them at that stage and apart from a couple of bursts down the left from O'Reilly, opening up half chances for Bernardo Silva and Cherki, and also maybe a low strike from Antoine Semenyo after a dash along the 18-yard line, there was little to record.

It turns out they were saving themselves for a second half blitz.

"Are you watching Arsenal?" sang their fans. The answer is yes, but from behind the sofa between gaps in fingers covering their eyes.

Blues: (4-2-3-1) Sanchez - Gusto (Acheampong 88), Fofana, Hato, Cucurella - Caicedo (Essugo 82), Andrey Santos (Lavia 58) - Estevao (Garnacho 58), Palmer, Pedro Neto - Joao Pedro (Delap 82)

City: (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma - Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly (Ait-Nouri 64) - Bernardo Silva (Kovacic 80), Rodri - Semenyo, Cherki (Foden 76), Doku (Savinho 76) - Haaland