LONDON - The closest English top-flight title race in 33 years speeds towards its conclusion this weekend, with Manchester City carrying the advantage ahead of a thorny trip to Everton on Saturday. Leaders Liverpool's 2-0 loss at home to second-place Chelsea last weekend means that City will probably be assured of a second title in three seasons if they win their three remaining matches.
City trail Liverpool by three points but have a game in hand and a superior goal difference (+58 to +50), and yet with the teams so tightly bunched, the race is far from run. Not since 1981 have the top three been so close together at this stage of the season and only twice in the Premier League era (1999 and 2008) have three teams been in mathematical title contention at this point.
With Chelsea not hosting Norwich City until Sunday and Liverpool visiting Crystal Palace on Monday, City can take over at the top by prevailing at Goodison Park. However, while Everton now trail Arsenal by four points in the race for the fourth and final Champions League place, they have lost at home only twice this season. "They are at home in front of their fans, and they are always good at home," City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho told the club website.
"The atmosphere is also good there, and they will play with a lot of intensity. We have to be ready for that. It will be a very tough game." Chelsea saw their hopes of a trophy double dashed last Wednesday when they lost 3-1 at home to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. Two points off the summit, Jose Mourinho's side need both Liverpool and City to slip up if they are to claim the title, but goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer says that they have no option but to keep on fighting. "We need to put the others under pressure," said the Australian, whose side will go top if they overcome third-bottom Norwich. We have to pick ourselves up from this disappointment and realise we must keep banging on the door with the game against Norwich on Sunday. We must make sure we pick up three points so we can capitalise on any slip-ups."
Having stretched their lead over Everton with a breezy 3-0 success against Newcastle United on Monday, Arsenal can rubber-stamp a top-four finish if they win at home to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Manchester United's Champions League ambitions have long faded, but they will look to build on last weekend's 4-0 win over Norwich in interim manager Ryan Giggs's first game in charge when they host Sunderland.
Sunderland, however, are on a run of back-to-back victories that have lifted them out of the bottom three, and having already beaten both City and Chelsea this season, they have pedigree against the top sides. "We haven't played to the level that we're capable of this season, but we did that against Norwich," said Giggs. "It can't just be for one game. It has to be for longer than that. Every time you play for Manchester United you have to stay at that level, and they have to keep to these standards against Sunderland."
While Sunderland also have a game in hand to fulfil, at home to West Brom on Wednesday, time is running out for bottom club Cardiff City, who are two points from safety ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side could be relegated this weekend if results go against them, while Fulham are also in a perilous position, just a point better off and facing a trip to Stoke City.
With an away game at Palace awaiting on the season's final day, Fulham manager Felix Magath has urged his players to take responsibility for their destiny by winning their last two matches. "I still believe two wins will be enough," he said "There is no doubt, we need three points to have the chance to not be relegated. That is the situation. "The atmosphere is very good and the players want to show people we are still alive."

FIXTURES

SATURDAY
Aston Villa    v    Hull City
Everton    v    Manchester City
Manchester United    v    Sunderland
Newcastle United    v    Cardiff City
Stoke City    v    Fulham
Swansea City    v    Southampton
West Ham United    v    Tottenham Hotspur
SUNDAY
Arsenal    v    West Bromwich Albion
Chelsea    v    Norwich City
MONDAY
Crystal Palace    v    Liverpool

POINT TABLE

Club    M    P    D    L    GF    GA    Pts
CLiverpool    36    25    5    6    96    46    80
Chelsea    36    24    6    6    69    26    78
Man City    35    24    5    6    93    35    77
Arsenal    36    22    7    7    65    41    73
Everton    36    20    9    7    57    36    69
Tottenham    36    20    6    10    52    49    66
Man Utd    35    18    6    11    60    40    60
Southampton    36    14    10    12    52    45    52
Newcastle    36    14    4    18    39    57    46
Stoke    36    11    11    14    39    50    44
Crystal Palace    36    13    4    19    28    43    43
Swansea    36    10    9    17    51    52    39
Hull    35    10    7    18    36    45    37
West Ham    36    10    7    19    38    49    37
West Brom    35    7    15    13    42    54    36
Aston Villa    35    9    8    18    36    53    35
Sunderland    35    8    8    19    37    57    32
Norwich    36    8    8    20    28    60    32
Fulham    36    9    4    23    37    79    31
Cardiff    36    7    9    20    31    69    30