Another warm hug - this time on the touchline between the two managers - and it is time to roll.

Both sides walk out of the tunnel into the White Hart Lane sunshine. A beautiful Bank Holiday Sunday in the capital by the look of things. Handshake time...

Harry Kane is the player who the cameraman pans onto as the two teams line up in the White Hart Lane tunnel. The Spurs striker shares a warm embrace with City keeper Joe Hart, who then gees up his team-mates in typical fashion with some words of encouragement.

"Come on lads, loads of energy, make those set pieces count, rattle them in Kola (Aleksandr Kolarov)," barks the England man. "Let's go!"

6-0, 5-1, 4-1. The last three scorelines between these two sides are only a couple of goals away from resembling a scoreboard at Wimbledon when Novak Djokovic is playing.

And it has been City who have been as dominant as the Serb tennis star. Spurs have lost seven of the last eight Premier League meetings with the Blues.

That included the memorable 4-1 win for City, external earlier in the season - a match which included four (yes, four) penalties. More of the same drama today please.

Image source, Getty Images

Another sub-plot is a potential flashpoint between two feisty Frenchman. City's Samir Nasri says he is ready to refuse the handshake of Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris, who Nasri believes plotted to have him thrown out of France's national squad.

"There's no smoke without fire," the City midfielder, who has not played for Les Bleus for 18 months, told the Sun.

However, Nasri is only named on the City bench so don't expect any Wayne Bridge-John Terry type snub....

Injured Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany watches on from the White Hart Lane as the two sets of players continue to stretch those muscles. The big Belgian looks pensive before smiling as he signs an autograph for a member of the Spurs' stadium staff.

Steve Wilson
BBC MOTD commentator at White Hart Lane

"Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been talking about the need for a 'big summer' at White Hart Lane. His squad is still dominated by players signed in the aftermath of Gareth Bale's move to Madrid - and there's a feeling that they've been treading water whilst wearing a Harry Kane-shaped lifebelt.

"Spurs have to plan for the possibility that Kane's second season will be less productive than his first, and continuing to squeeze the odd game and goal out of Adebayor and Soldado is not really a viable option.

"Finding a second reliable striker - and keeping the excellent Hugo Lloris - must be top of their summer wish list."

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino on finishing in the top four: "We know it will be hard but we must keep trying. We have a good opportunity today and I think we have a good team."

An acute case of travel sickness appears to have hit the Manchester City camp in recent weeks. Journeys to the other side of Manchester, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Liverpool have been bumpy and ended with an empty tank of zero points.

Manchester City's players look relaxed as they go through their warm-up drills in the north London sun. I wonder if anyone has told them that they are no longer the Premier League champions? There aren't many smiles etched across the faces of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and co....

We have just heard from Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini in the White Hart Lane tunnel - and the classy Chilean is very gracious about Chelsea's title triumph.

"They were the most consistent team of the year - they deserve the win," he says.

Image source, Reuters

Look away now Manchester City fans - your team has been officially dethroned.

OK, it is hardly a surprise, but Chelsea have clinched the title by beating Palace at Stamford Bridge.

Head over to this page for all the reaction - as long as you promise to return here afterwards....

Steve Wilson
BBC MOTD commentator at White Hart Lane

"Recent history tells us that for a Manchester City manager to keep his job he must win the Premier League. We have no way of knowing if a City boss could survive failing in the Premier League by winning the Champions League, because it has never looked like happening.

"But given that Manuel Pellegrini has fallen well short on both counts, it's fair to say that his time is almost up. "

David Pleat at White Hart Lane
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 live:

"It looks as though the Champions League places is going to be a good race to the wire and the Premier League needs that in view of the fact Chelsea have run away with it and deservedly so. Now got a race for second position and Arsenal will hope their neighbours Tottenham will get a result today."

When I walked into the office earlier, two questions were put to my colleagues.

Firstly, are Tottenham still 'Champions League chasing'? Umms, errs and some unsure head shaking was the general response. And secondly, is Manuel Pellegrini going to be given his P45 by Manchester City? Again, a few unconvincing mumblings.

So we're going to let you provide some clearer answers. You know the drill. Tell us what you think by using #bbcfootball on Twitter or by texting 81111.

Image source, AP

While Manuel Pellegrini sweats over his future, there are no such worries for Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine's debut season at White Hart Lane has been mixed. Some wonderful results - particularly the 5-3 home win over Chelsea - have been tempered by their inability to beat the likes of West Brom, Newcastle, Stoke and Leicester on their own patch.

Nevertheless, a return to the Europa League looks on the cards for sixth-placed Spurs, who could move level with Liverpool with a win today. And three points would also move them four within Manchester United, who occupy that final Champions League qualification with three matches left.

Image source, PA

If you believe what you read in the newspapers, then Manuel Pellegrini will not be wearing a Manchester City blazer and tie on the touchline next season.

No Premier League trophy. No Champions League trophy. In fact, no trophy whatsoever. And that is not thought to be good enough to stop City's hierarchy preparing their interview questions for prospective new managers over the summer.

The bare minimum for Pellegrini is a top-four finish - and the good news is that the Blues will all but manage that with three points at Tottenham today.

Victory will move City nine points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, with just nine points left available for the Reds. And Pellegrini's men have the cushion of a +23 goal difference over the Merseyside men.

One change for Spurs as left-back Danny Rose shakes off a knock to replace Ben Davies, who has dislocated his shoulder.

Spurs XI: Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Mason, Bentaleb, Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli, Kane.

Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure are both ruled out for Manchester City through injury, while Jesus Navas also misses out.

City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner, Lampard, Silva, Aguero.