Liverpool were handed a huge boost to their hopes of securing the Premier League title with table-toppers Manchester City having been held by West Ham United on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola ’s men initially found themselves 2-0 down at the London Stadium with former Reds’ transfer target Jarrod Bowen twice having found the net for the hosts. The reigning champions managed to find a route back into the game through record signing Jack Grealish before Vladimir Coufal put through his own net.
City did in fact have the chance to win the game and all-but secure the title but Riyad Mahrez saw his penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski, opening the door for the Reds to potentially claim the title and complete an unprecedented quadruple.
However, there appears to be plenty of work still to be done for Jurgen Klopp ’s men to overturn their current disadvantage. With City having claimed a point, they now sit four clear of the Reds and they also have a far superior goal difference to consider.
The Reds have to win against Southampton against St Mary’s on Tuesday evening to keep their title hopes alive. A draw will not see City crowned champions but due to that aforementioned goal difference, Guardiola’s men will be title-winners in everything but name.
Should they manage to find a way past the Saints in midweek, then the title race will once again go down to the final day of the Premier League season. With one match of the season remaining, there will be one point between the two sides.
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This means that courtesy of City’s superior goal difference, the Reds will have to better the current champions' result as the season concludes. City are back at the Etihad Stadium for a clash with Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Liverpool do battle with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. Of course, a draw could potentially be enough for the Reds if City are defeated by Villa but only in the unlikely event of a seven-goal swing over the final week of the season.
Whilst that would be a remarkable end to the season, it has already been seen so far this term with Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers having sealed a dramatic promotion from League Two with a 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United.
Manchester City boss Guardiola has suggested that he is not surprised that the race for the title has gone down to the final few weeks of the campaign. Talking to the BBC after Sunday’s draw with West Ham, he said: "We couldn’t expect different with this Liverpool - they are almost the perfect team.
“We didn’t expect to win the title with three, four or five games to spare. We’ve both done an exceptional season. We won’t look at anyone else - we’ll just try and win our game. I’m pretty sure the Etihad Stadium will be full and they’ll be supporting us.”
