Race to the finish line

Man City eye win on last day to keep Reds at bay and retain Premier League title

Agencies

MANCHESTER: Manchester City have the destiny of the Premier League title in their hands heading into Sunday’s final day showdown, with the defending champions holding a slender one-point lead over quadruplechasing Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola’s men will claim a fourth English title in five years of a dominant era for Abu Dhabi-backed City with victory over Aston Villa.

“It’s difficult to control your emotions when you know what you are playing for,” said City manager Guardiola. “The players are human beings but it’s football, when you think that it is over it is not over.”

Liverpool will instead face Real in next weekend’s battle to be crowned champions of Europe in Paris as they remain in contention for an unprecedented haul of four major trophies in the one season. Jurgen Klopp’s men have already lifted the League Cup and FA Cup.

“Imagine somebody tells you before the season you’re going to be in all three cup finals and

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want to fight for the league,” said Liverpool manager Klopp.

“It’s a fantastic time for a Liverpool supporter and now we have to make sure we enjoy the last two games as well,” the German added.

The presence of Liverpool great and now Villa manager Steven Gerrard on the opposition bench at the Etihad adds extra intrigue to the decisive day in the title race. Gerrard famously never won a league title in his 17-year career at Anfield, but could deliver one on a plate to his old club.

Anything other than a City win will allow Liverpool to take

the title with victory at home to Wolves. “We’ll go out at the weekend and give it everything we’ve got to try and get points for Aston Villa and our supporters,” said Gerrard.

European places at stake Chelsea will join City and Liverpool in next season’s Champions League, with north London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal still battling for fourth spot.

Spurs are in the driving seat as they just need a draw away to already-relegated Norwich to secure a return to the Champions League. Back-to-back defeats have seen Arsenal throw away a big chance to get back to European football’s top table.

The Gunners have to win at home to an Everton side fresh from sealing their Premier League status and hope Spurs stumble at Carrow Road.

Manchester United and West Ham are guaranteed European football next season but their battle to be in the Europa League rather than the Conference League has also gone to the final day. Should United fail to win, the Hammers can finish sixth with victory at Brighton.

Real Madrid held

MADRID: Real Madrid’s regular starters were held by Real Betis to 0-0 on Friday in the team’s last match before the Champions League final.

Madrid began with the team that is expected to face Liverpool on May 28 in Paris, where they will try to win a record-extending 14th European title.