The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
City take initiative in race for the title
Pep Guardiola is relieved that Manchester City’s title destiny is still in their own hands after they were held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
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 secondplaced 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 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 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.”
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte says he is ready to “suffer” when watching Arsenal’s game with Newcastle tonight after his side moved into the top four.
Spurs climbed above their north London rivals in the race for Champions League qualification after an edgy 1-0 win over Burnley, which was secured by Harry Kane’s controversial first-half penalty.
Arsenal have to beat
Newcastle to reclaim the upper hand going into the final day and the whole of north London will be watching and hoping for different outcomes.
“I think first of all we had to do our task and to win and get three points and put some pressure on Arsenal,” Conte said.
“We know very well it is not easy to play against Newcastle and especially when they arrive with the new manager and are in a good spell and not an easy game.”
Everton blew a chance to secure their Premier League status as Brentford twice came from behind to earn a 3-2 win against nine men at Goodison Park.
Leeds’ draw against Brighton meant victory for the Toffees would put an end to the spectre of a first relegation since 1951, and that seemed the most likely outcome when Dominic Calvert-Lewin marked his first start in five weeks with a 10th-minute opener.
But, in keeping with Everton’s season, things were not going to be that simple – Jarrad Branthwaite was sent off for a foul on Ivan Toney eight minutes later, and Brentford levelled through a Seamus Coleman own goal.
Though Richarlison restored Everton’s lead just before the break, the pressure told in the second half as two goals in three minutes from Yoane Wissa and Rico Henry gave Brentford their first league double over Everton since 1936, and left Frank Lampard’s side still only two points above the bottom three.
Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes each scored twice as Roy Hodgson’s final home match in charge of relegated Watford ended in an embarrassing 5-1 loss to Leicester.
Substitute Jeffrey Schlupp netted a late equaliser as Crystal Palace secured a 1-1 draw at fellow mid-table side Aston Villa.
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s first goal in 19 months salvaged a point for Wolves against relegated Norwich.