Liverpool crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City lose at Chelsea

Guardiola's side are beaten at Stamford Bridge meaning the Merseysiders seal first title in 30 years

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, left, celebrates scoring the opening goal in his team's 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge, on Thursday, June 26. AFP

Manchester City's Fernandinho handles the ball on the line to give away a penalty and earn himself a red card. PA

Chelsea's Tammy Abraham appeals for a penalty after the Fernandinho handball. PA

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Reuters

Manchester City's Fernandinho is shown a red card by referee Stuart Attwell. Reuters.

Chelsea's Willian fires home from the spot to make the score 2-1. Getty

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring. Reuters

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne levelling the scores at 1-1 with a brilliant free-kick a free kick. PA

Kevin De Bruyne equalises for Manchester City. Reuters

Chelsea's Willian brushed off the challenge of Rodri of Manchester City. Reuters

Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling sees his shot hit the post. PA

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. PA

A disappointed Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson after Pulisic's goal. EPA

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic skips past the challenge of Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy to score the opening goal. AFP

Chelsea' manager Frank Lampard. AFP

Christian Pulisicscores for Chelsea. EPA

Chelsea's N'golo Kante under pressure from Bernardo Silva of Manchester City. Getty

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson saves at the feet of Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic. PA

Manchester City goalkeeper Edersonis challenged by Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger. Reuters

Chelsea substitutes take the knee before the match. AFP

Liverpool have been crowned Premier League champions after second-placed Manchester City were beaten 2-1 at Chelsea.

Christian Pulisic had given Chelsea a first-half lead only for Kevin de Bruyne to level the scores with a brilliant free-kick 10 minutes after the break.

Raheem Sterling hit the post as the match swung from end-to-end only for Willian to give Chelsea three points from the penalty spot 12 minutes from time after Fernandinho handled on the line.

The result meant Jurgen Klopp's men sealed a 19th league title for the club after a 30-year wait with a record seven games left to play. City's defeat left them 23 points adrift of Liverpool at the top.

Liverpool's coronation has been on the cards since Christmas but was delayed and even under threat due to the coronavirus shutdown.

Now, though, the Merseyside party can start in earnest, after Chelsea played Premier League kingmakers for the second time in four years.

The Blues' 2-2 draw with Tottenham in west London in 2016 sealed Leicester's first-ever Premier League crown.

On that simmering Monday night four years ago, Chelsea's fans hailed former manager Claudio Ranieri steering the Foxes to glory, taunting rivals Spurs with chants of 'Leicester, Leicester' and 'champions, champions'.

This time around, Stamford Bridge was an eerie ghost ground, with the title-deciding clash held behind closed doors amid the continued pandemic fallout.

Chelsea's victory might have rubber-stamped Liverpool's title, but this battling Blues performance will also prove a huge boost in the race for Champions League qualification.

Two wins in two after the league's resumption puts fourth-placed Chelsea five points clear of Manchester United in fifth, and just one behind Leicester in third.

Maybe now Liverpool fans will forgive Chelsea for scuppering their 2014 title bid, with that 2-0 win at Anfield that will be forever remembered for Steven Gerrard's slip.

Chelsea certainly had to sweat for this result at a boiling Stamford Bridge, with City dominating possession and territory from the off.

Kepa escaped unscathed from a poor clearance then conjured a fine save from Fernandinho's snap header.

Chelsea grew into the encounter, however, with Ross Barkley, Olivier Giroud and Pulisic all influential.

Barkley saw his low drive cleared off the line from Fernandinho, and that after Ederson palmed away an effort from Mason Mount.

Andreas Christensen's powerful header was well saved at point-blank range by Ederson, and Cesar Azpilicueta blazed the loose ball high over the bar.

Just when Chelsea would have started to fret about turning around without any reward, Mendy lingered too long and Pulisic seized full advantage.

The fit-again USA forward gleefully zipped onto the ball and away from City's defence, before steadying himself and slotting a fine finish past the helpless Ederson.

Mendy opened the second half so desperate for atonement that one piledriver poleaxed Christensen, while another soared high into the stands.

In a flash City were level though, with the previously subdued De Bruyne unleashing a sumptuous free-kick.

As the momentum continued to swing City's way, Raheem Sterling raced through and lifted the ball over the onrushing Kepa – but onto the post.

Pulisic so nearly doubled his and Chelsea's tally, rounding Ederson and rolling the ball goalwards. But Kyle Walker produced a fine sliding challenge to clear off the line.

Chelsea pressed again, with Abraham and Pulisic both denied in a lengthy goalmouth scramble.

Fernandinho was called up for handball after a VAR check though, the City captain conceding a penalty and receiving a red card.

Willian stepped up, checked his run and buried the spot-kick.

City pressed to the last but Chelsea held out – sealing a big win in the Champions League race, but also that elusive league crown for Liverpool.