Reds enjoy ‘special season’

City now know a win against Aston Villa next weekend will seal a fourth Premier League crown in five years, regardless of what Liverpool do.

Guardiola’s side had to battle back from two goals down at the London Stadium, and then missed a late penalty to win it through Riyad Mahrez.

Jarrod Bowen’s first-half double threatened to hand the initiative to second-placed Liverpool, who would have surely relished the challenge of drawing level on points and gnawing away at the goal difference in their game in hand at Southampton tomorrow night.

But Jack Grealish pulled one back after the break and an own goal by Hammers defender Vladimir Coufal secured what now looks a vital point.

“Now there’s no debates about goal difference, we need to win our game to be champions, if we don’t win Liverpool will be champions,” said City boss Guardiola.

“I can assure you something. In one week our stadium will be sold out and we will give them all of our lives over 95 minutes and they will give us their lives.

“It is an incredible privilege to have the chance with our people at home to win one game to be champions. I’m looking forward to it.

“We are going to rest for one or two

JAMES Milner is determined to add at least one more trophy to Liverpool’s domestic cup double but says this will be a “special season no matter what” happens over the next fortnight.

There are just three matches remaining in the Reds’ quest for an unprecedented quadruple.

Jurgen Klopp’s side kept those hopes alive by repeating February’s Carabao Cup win on Saturday, with a goalless 120 minutes followed by another penalty shoot-out victory against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

The Reds will lock horns with Real Madrid at the Stade de France in the Champions League final on May 28, but first comes their final Premier League matches against Southampton and Wolves.

Milner knows former club Manchester City have the upper hand in the title race, but feels a secondplaced finish would not take the edge off an unforgettable Liverpool campaign.

“For us, we just need to take a game at a time like we have done all year,” he said.

“We have three games left. We will try and win them and see where that takes us.

“We know it’s in City’s hands. They’re in a good position and they’re a relentless, very good team.

“So, for us to be where we are at this point in the season, to have two trophies in the cabinet and to still have a glimmer of hope in the other two, it’s been a special season no matter what.”

Pep Guardiola