Three-horse race reaches crucial hurdle in thrilling title battle
MANCHESTER --
The race for the Premier League title enters the final stretch as Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all go into a crucial weekend of fixtures with the crown on the line. And first up may be the weekend's most pivotal match for fans on both sides of Stanley Park as Everton host Manchester City in Saturday's late game.
If history is any guide, this could be the make-or-break game for City. In an echo of their title-winning 2012 run-in, they face three big games against opponents that can hurt them. In 2012 the roadblock was none other than Manchester United, and City went to Old Trafford needing a win. They got one then thanks to Vincent Kompany's famous goal and Yaya Toure's searing midfield play; they will have to repeat the feat now against an Everton team that have beaten them in their last four straight matches at Goodison Park.
City's ship seems to be back on course after they were dealt a massive setback at Anfield in mid-April, handing the initiative to Liverpool. Since then, Liverpool were stunned by Chelsea, and City went on to win two out of three despite seeing their normally potent strike force hit the skids. Sergio Aguero has yet to fully recover from his injury-enforced absence and Alvaro Negredo has not scored a goal in 14 matches. City is also in an unusual spot in that they still hold a game in hand at this late stage, which they will play on Wednesday night at the Etihad against Aston Villa. But, they hold all the cards: if City win their last three games, they are guaranteed the title.
Everton on the other hand, are in a bit of a spot. Their fans are deeply ambivalent about this weekend's match as a win for Everton would give a massive boost to their arch-rivals' title dreams. (While the Liverpool rivalry is the 'friendly' one, it's not that friendly.) As such much of the pre-game chatter has focused on whether or not the Toffees will give a helping hand to their neighbors in red.
Roberto Martinez admits that fans have approached him and told him win or lose, it does not matter, but he stresses that his team is playing to win, telling the club website that, "I don't think there is any doubt over the integrity of our football club towards the league and the competition. We are a football club that wants to win every single game we go into.
"For us it is important that we can give a proper send-off for our fans in the last home game of the season and we want to give a performance to remember."
His counterpart, Manuel Pellegrini, said on Friday that he expected a fight from the Toffees.
"I think that Everton at this stage of the season will be a tough game," said Pellegrini. "Roberto has done a very gob job there and we are sure it will be a very tough game. In football you never know, so the important thing for us is to think about what we can do and the only thing we can do is to try and win our games."
Pellegrini reported that all his players, save Jesus Navas, are fit, giving a boost to the hope that David Silva, who trained at Carrington Friday morning, will start the game. Silva has been carrying a nagging ankle injury and has not been able to play every match. Easily City's most creative player, Pellegrini is likely to gamble with him.
Everton, on the other hand, have a raft of problems. Sylvain Distin is a doubt with what Martinez described as a soft-tissue injury while Steven Pienaar is still a week away from playing following a knee injury. Also out long-term are Lacina Traore, Kevin Mirallas, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone. Gareth Barry is ineligible as he is on loan from City but Phil Jagielka is expected back after missing almost three months to injury.
The key players are likely to be Toure, Silva and Everton's James McCarthy, who will have a huge task in filling Barry's role. If Distin is unable to go, that leaves a big gap in the heart of Everton's defense in front of American Tim Howard. With Toure loping forward at speed and Silva pulling the strings, City can be mesmerizing - indeed, they have been the league's best road team this season.
Liverpool, who face Crystal Palace in London on Monday night, will be watching with keen interest. Lest anyone forgets, they are still atop the table, and will hope that points in hand are better than games in hand. And then there's Chelsea, who sit second and whose manager vigorously denies they can win the league. They play Norwich Sunday, and you had better believe that as slim as their chances may be, Jose Mourinho will have his team ready to pounce on any slip-ups.
