Liverpool can seal EPL title for Man City
Liverpool will like nothing more than to officially hand over their title as English Premier League champions to Manchester City today.
City moved to the brink of reclaiming the league crown by beating Crystal Palace 2-0, with goals from Sergio Aguerro and Ferran Torres yesterday. One more win will complete the job for Pep Guardiola’s players – unless Liverpool do it for them with a victory at second-placed Manchester United, the only team that can mathematically stop City.
Liverpool have long since given up their title after a dramatic implosion in the second half of the season. The Reds even look likely to fall short of qualifying for next season’s Champions League considering they are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, who beat Fulham 2-0 yesterday.
To have any realistic chance of finishing in the top four, winning at Old Trafford is a must for Jurgen Klopp’s team – even if that would mean its reign as English champions ends after barely 10 months.
Of course, there are plenty more chances for City to wrap up a third title in four years, and a fifth in the last decade.
Should Liverpool fail to beat United, City can become champions again with a home win over Chelsea next Sunday, one of four remaining games for Guardiola’s team.
The champagne is very much on ice for City.
Or, as Guardiola put it after the win at Palace: ‘‘We can start to think about putting it in the fridge.’’
Chelsea’s win cemented them fourth place and moved them six points clear of fifth-placed West Ham, who play Burnley tomorrow.
Everton look to be out of contention for Champions League qualification after losing to Aston Villa 2-1 at home.
Anwar El Ghazi’s 80th-minute winner left Everton nine points behind Chelsea with a game in hand. Brighton can start planning for a fourth straight season in the top flight.
A 2-0 win at home against Leeds pushed Brighton 10 points clear of the relegation zone with four games remaining.
Pascal Gross, with a penalty, and Danny Welbeck were the scorers.