Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola treating today’s West Ham clash like a final as a win will help them virtually seal EPL title
Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Wolverhampton at the Molineux Stadium in central England recently. Pic/AFP
Manchester City can put one hand on the Premier League trophy on Sunday should they beat West Ham to extend their three-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the table.
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Advantage City
Liverpool faced Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday in the FA Cup final, offering City the chance to stretch their advantage to six points and further boost a seven-goal lead on goal difference.
City have been in scintillating form since a 2-2 draw with Liverpool last month left the title race on a knife edge.
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola’s men have struck 22 goals in five games since to close in on a fourth title in five seasons. Another convincing win at the London Stadium and the title will be realistically won given City’s better goal difference.
“Everybody knows with winning at West Ham and it will be almost, almost done, with the goal difference,” said Guardiola on Friday. “It’s absolutely a final.”
Concern over defence
However, there are concerns for Guardiola in cobbling together a defence. Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker have been ruled out for the season, while Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho and Nathan Ake are fitness doubts.
West Ham are also in need of the points in their bid to pip Manchester United to Europa League football next season. David Moyes’ men trail sixth-placed United by three points but have a game in hand over the Red Devils.
The battle to join City, Liverpool and almost certainly Chelsea in next season’s Champions League is alive after Tottenham thrashed north London rivals Arsenal 3-0 on Thursday.
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