According to a few of the headlines after Manchester City’s crushing defeat of title rival Arsenal this week, the sky blue ribbons can already be fixed to the Premier League trophy.
The 4-1 thrashing of the long-time chief at The Etihad wrenched management of the race out of Arsenal’s fingers and put City firmly answerable for its future.
But City boss Pep Guardiola is just too lengthy within the tooth to imagine a fifth league title in six seasons is now a formality.
The response to City’s victory within the so-called title decider was comprehensible. It was its seventh successive league win and left it two factors behind Arsenal with two video games in hand, having trailed by eight not way back.
Victory for a relentless City at Fulham on Sunday will take it into the lead and, ought to it obtain that, it actually can be its title to lose, particularly with house video games towards struggling West Ham United and Leeds United up subsequent.
But Guardiola urges warning.
“I have a feeling the next three games will dictate a lot,” he stated. “Fulham have come from the Championship and this season have been amazing. We play at home against Leeds and West Ham. We feel comfortable here with the crowd.”
After its mauling at City, Arsenal has the weekend off to lick its wounds and regroup after its house conflict with Chelsea was shunted to Tuesday on police recommendation.
But there is no such thing as a respite for the groups battling on the different finish of the desk to keep away from being relegated.
SORRY SAINTS
Time seems to be working out for backside membership Southampton after its defeat by Bournemouth on Thursday left them six factors from the protection zone with 5 video games left.
Southampton goes to third-placed Newcastle United on Sunday to face a aspect that has scored 10 objectives in two video games and seems on the cusp of a return to the Champions League.
The two golf equipment instantly above Saints, Everton and Leicester City meet on Monday in a real ‘six-pointer’.
Nottingham Forest climbed out of the drop zone with a priceless victory towards Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday and victory at Brentford on Saturday would put much more strain on Everton and Leicester.
Leeds, which is above Forest on purpose distinction, travels to almost-safe Bournemouth on Sunday.
With Fulham comfy in tenth place and Bournemouth and Forest on the right track for survival, it might be solely the fourth time in Premier League historical past that every one three groups promoted from the Championship keep away from relegation in its first season up.
The final time that occurred was in 2017-18 when Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield all stayed up.
Tottenham Hotspur’s probabilities of a top-four end are nearly over although it did present some struggle to attract 2-2 with fourth-placed Manchester United on Thursday in Ryan Mason’s first recreation in interim cost, 4 days after a 6-1 drubbing at Newcastle.
Spurs in fifth go to Liverpool, which is seventh, on Sunday in a match that would go a protracted technique to determine which of the 2 golf equipment can salvage a Europa League qualification spot.
Tottenham has 54 factors, the identical as sixth-placed Aston Villa, with Liverpool on 53 having performed a recreation much less.
Liverpool is searching for a fourth successive win and, belatedly, has joined the Premier League occasion.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com