Man City aim to end Liverpool’s quadruple bid in Premier League climax

Manchester City have the Premier League title in their hands heading into Sunday’s final day clash, with a one-point advantage over quadruple-chasing Liverpool.

With a win over Aston Villa, Pep Guardiola’s side would win their fourth English crown in five years of dominance for Abu Dhabi-backed City.

“It’s difficult to control your emotions when you know what you are playing for,” said City manager Guardiola.

“The players are human beings but it’s football, when you think that it is over it is not over.”

City learned this lesson the hard way after blowing a two-goal lead in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid earlier this month.

“The importance is unnecessary to tell them,” added Guardiola. “They know it, they feel it.”

Instead, Liverpool will meet Real Madrid in the European Champions League final in Paris next weekend, as they seek a record four major championships in a single season.

Klopp’s side has already won the League Cup and the FA Cup.

“Imagine somebody tells you before the season you’re going to be in all three cup finals and want to fight for the league,” said Liverpool manager Klopp.

“The boys did it — fed by the people here in the building, by our supporters, by all these kind of things.

“It’s a fantastic time for a Liverpool supporter and now we have to make sure we enjoy the last two games as well,” the German added.

The sight of former Liverpool captain and current Villa manager Steven Gerrard on the opposition bench at the Etihad adds to the tension ahead of the title decider.

Gerrard notoriously never won a league title during his 17-year Anfield career, but he could hand it to his former club.

If City loses, Liverpool will win the league with a win over Wolves at home.

“We’ll go out at the weekend and give it everything we’ve got to try and get points for Aston Villa and our supporters,” said Gerrard.

“If that inevitably helps Liverpool, fantastic, but my priority is to try and get points for Aston Villa.”

European places at stake

Chelsea will compete in the Champions League alongside City and Liverpool next season, with north London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal still competing for fourth place.

Spurs are in command, needing only a point at already-relegated Norwich to seal a return to the Champions League.

Arsenal has blown a fantastic opportunity to return to European football’s top table after two consecutive defeats.

The Gunners must beat Everton at home after securing their Premier League status, and hope Spurs falter at Carrow Road.

Manchester United and West Ham have both secured European football for next season, but their battle to play in the Europa League rather than the Conference League has also reached its conclusion.

Erik Ten Hag, United’s new manager, is likely to attend the game against Crystal Palace.

With a win at Brighton, the Hammers may finish sixth if United fails to win.

Pitch invasion fears

Burnley or Leeds will be demoted from the Premier League if they finish last in the table.

Due to their better goal difference, Burnley only needs to match Leeds’ result.

Turf Moor will welcome Newcastle United, while Leeds will visit Brentford.

Everton’s celebrations for surviving relegation were disrupted by a pitch invasion at Goodison Park after they beat Crystal Palace in dramatic circumstances on Thursday.

Police are looking into an incident in which Palace manager Patrick Vieira was ejected after a supporter taunted him.

If Burnley stays up, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe wants to avoid a repeat performance.

“I think we’re going into dangerous territory where something could happen in a game that has terrible consequences,” he said.

Fixtures (all 1500 GMT)

Sunday

Arsenal v Everton, Brentford v Leeds, Brighton v West Ham, Burnley v Newcastle, Chelsea v Watford, Crystal Palace v Manchester United, Leicester v Southampton,Liverpool v Wolves, Manchester City v Aston Villa, Norwich v Tottenham

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