Pep declares love for Aguero
SERGIO Aguero's glittering Manchester City career is in its final weeks but the 32-year-old Argentine provided evidence of just how much he will be missed yesterday.
Injury, illness and manager Pep Guardiola's preference for a line-up featuring no orthodox striker have limited Aguero's appearances in his final season, a decade after joining.
But given a rare start at Crystal Palace he produced a stunning strike to send City on their way to a 2-0 win and to the brink of a fifth Premier League title in 10 seasons.
Aguero has been integral in the other four, and while his fifth will have been limited to cameo roles, he remains a player who will attract interest from around the world.
Guardiola was generous in his praise for City's all-time leading scorer after he took his Premier League tally for the club to 182 goals in 273 appearances.
"What a goal. What an action. What a player. What a man, we are delighted he is back," Guardiola said.
"We will enjoy the last games with him. He showed with the goal what he is. I am in love with him as a person. He is an incredible guy. We haven't been able to use him many times, but maybe we got him back at the right time. He knows he has a special quality."
City's 11th successive Premier League away win was all too easy, even if they took a while to hit their attacking stride.
Aguero broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, smashing a half-volley into the net after a sublime touch. Ferran Torres then made it 2-0 a minute later.
Should Manchester United lose to Liverpool today the champagne will be uncorked at the Etihad, but if not they will claim the title with two more points from four games.
"Tomorrow I will take a look (at the Manchester United game). It's in our hands – four games, one victory and we will be champions. I'm really impressed by the way we've done this Premier League. We are close."
As City close in on their third English Premier league title in four years, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he does not expect them to take their foot off the gas next season.
Klopp’s men take on bitter rivals Manchester United today and they need to win to keep alive their hopes of playing in the Champions League next season. Equally, Man United will want to keep pressure on City because their defeat will hand the title to Guardiola.
Klopp's sixth-placed Liverpool have struggled due to injuries and a dip in form and are in a battle to finish in the top four, thereby securing Champions League qualification.
"It always becomes harder because Manchester City never stop. That's clear. They didn't stop and they'll not stop," Klopp told a news conference on Friday. "Two years in a row they had us on their necks. OK, for one year we were ahead of them, but we never expected that to happen for the next 10 years in a row."