Top-four EPL battle to go to final day

The battle for the two remaining top-four spots in the English Premier League will go down to the final day after Manchester City and Arsenal both clinched victories.

City need a point from their final match to be absolutely sure of Champions League football after they beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 while fifthplaced Arsenal stayed in the hunt by beating relegated Sunderland 2-0 yesterday.

Gabriel de Jesus, Kevin de Bruyne and Yaya Toure scored City’s goals as they moved two points above Liverpool in third. With a superior goal difference of five to that of Arsenal, who are three points behind, it would take a big turnaround to deny City.

Liverpool will be assured of a top-four spot if they equal or better Arsenal’s result this weekend.

West Brom held out for 27 minutes at City but Gabriel and De Bruyne made it 2-0 with two goals in three minutes.

Toure then put the game beyond doubt with the third early in the second half and though Hal Robson-kanu pulled one back late on, West Brom were well beaten.

Arsenal kept alive their hopes of finishing in the top four for a 20th consecutive year after two goals from Alexis Sanchez gave them a 2-0 win over Sunderland.

The Chilean scored in the 72nd and 81st minutes to go within a point of Liverpool and at least put some pressure on their top-four rivals.

Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a string of brilliant saves to deny Arsenal before Sanchez broke the deadlock from close range.