Man City slip but show personality compared to West Ham to keep the Premier League title in their hands

LONDON – On a day when West Ham seem determined to breathe new life in the Premier League title race, Pep Guardiola City of Manchester the team did just enough to make sure the trophy remained theirs to lose.

Two first-half goals at the London Stadium on Sunday, City joined the fight in the second half to score two for themselves, only for Riyad Mahrez missed a late penalty when he had a chance to all but the championship trophy.

Now four points are clear, with Liverpool With a game in hand, points earned from a 2-2 draw mean if Man City can beat Steven Gerrard Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on the last day of the season, they will be champions. Although for a while here, it looks like they are ready to help Liverpool in their quest to find the back four.

Jurgen Klopp’s style of play Southampton on Tuesday, but poorer on goal difference (seven goals) means they will have to finish with more points than their opponents next weekend. However, the team on the bus back from London to Liverpool after their FA Cup win first Chelsea Saturday will be hectic when Jarrod Bowenexcellent all afternoon, scoring twice for West Ham in the first half.

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However, as soon as City were asked more questions about their personalities, they gave the answer as Jack Grealish volley home right after the break and Vladimir CoufalThe home goal pulled them up. In the previous 52 times when they’ve scored two or more goals in the first half in the Premier League era, they’ve only drawn once. What a time to make it two.

“Now there’s no debate about goal difference or anything; we need to win our game to be champions,” Guardiola said afterwards. “If we don’t win, Liverpool [who play Wolves] will be the champion. I can guarantee you one thing: In a week our stadium will be sold out and we will give them all our lives for more than 95 minutes and they will give us life. their.

“It’s been an incredible privilege to have the opportunity to win a match with our guys at home to be champions. I’m looking forward to it. We’ll rest for a day or two, break. mentally connect and then train for three or four days to prepare for the match against Aston Villa.”

Last weekend, Guardiola lamented that “everyone” was backing Liverpool in their quest to win the quarter-finals, and here his side defended as they were.

Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho was out of shape after both were forced out against Wolves in the middle of the week, but City could have been better off if Guardiola had followed his joke to choose next. Phil Foden in the heart of defense.

They were lucky to escape a Craig Dawson head free in the early back column, and it’s only gotten worse from there. Bowen scored twice in the first half as City failed to deal with second balls after long shots from the keeper Lukasz Fabianski and leave plenty of space in the back for strikers to run in. And after Grealish withdrew one, Michael Antonio was given another chance when Fernandinho’s back pass was a few yards lower Edersonbut Antonio shot over the bar.

Even at 2-2, Bowen had a golden opportunity to score when a hopeful cross into the box easily headed back into the danger zone of Tomas Soucekbut Man City did enough to stop him, and his shot went wide.

If City defend like this against Aston Villa next weekend, there could still be some confusion. The good news for Guardiola is that even if his team doesn’t play well, they can still score. In particular, in the second half, they had more chances than they did, finishing with 31 shots (eight on target) and a possession rate of 78%.

Grealish had a volley that was blocked by Fabianski, and the keeper also superbly saved Mahrez’s penalty in the 4th minute, after VAR instructed referee Anthony Taylor to review his foul. he waved goodbye. Gabriel Jesus in the box.

“I told the players after the game that we couldn’t expect anything different against a team that was fighting to win the Premier League, one of the most complete teams I’ve ever seen in my life. “, added Guardiola. “Against this Liverpool, you can’t win the league a month ago. You have to fight to the end. They fought, we fought and the greatest privilege we have is that it’s in our hands. We are on the field.

“We just have to look at ourselves and we’ll give everything. I said don’t be sad today because you guys put on a really good performance and it would be fair to this opponent to come. on the last day to decide who is the best, because both teams are too good.”

Undoubtedly one thing is the bravery of this City team. Guardiola made two swipes at Patrice Evra since before Manchester United defender proposed late defeat with Real Madrid being in the Champions League semi-finals was a matter of mentality, but his team gave the best answer here.

Take a 2-0 lead and face a ferocious crowd of West Ham who have come to pay their respects to the retired hero Mark Noble, they found a way to crush an outcome. After a season in which they have blown most of the Premier League away, their defining result in the campaign could turn into a draw against West Ham.