Manager Manuel Pellegrini expects Manchester City to be crowned
English champions for the second time in three seasons with his side needing
only a point from their final home game against West Ham United on Sunday. City
will win the Premier League unless Sam Allardyce's West Ham pull off a major
upset at the Etihad Stadium and Liverpool beat Newcastle United at Anfield.
City, who beat Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday, head into the final match of the
season with 83 points, two ahead of Liverpool whose collapse at Crystal Palace
on Monday when they blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3, left their title hopes in
tatters.
Manchester City's Edin
Dzeko, left, celebrates after scoring his first goal against Aston Villa during
their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium.
"Of course, I expect
to win the title now because we are top of the table," Pellegrini said.
"Winning the next game means we can win the title... "We are not
thinking of drawing. We are thinking of trying to play. As we did so far during
the whole season here at the Etihad." The only way Liverpool can end their
24-year-wait for the title now is if City lose to West Ham and Liverpool win.
If City draw and Liverpool win, City would win the title on goal difference.
City have beaten West Ham three times this season, winning 3-1 at Upton Park in
the league and routing the Londoners 9-0 on aggregate in the Capital One
(League) Cup semi-finals, so an upset looks unlikely. The only other
outstanding issues to be decided are whether Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester
United take the final Europa League place and the final confirmation of Norwich
City's relegation. Norwich, who battled to a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday,
have 33 points, three behind West Bromwich Albion but with a hugely inferior
goal difference they look sure to go down. Outgoing champions Manchester United
and big-spending Tottenham Hotspur have had to lower their ambitions after
disappointing seasons. DUBIOUS CONSOLATION Both teams would have been confident
of challenging for Champions League places, but they changed managers during
the campaign and are now eyeing the dubious consolation of a Europa League
spot. Tottenham, in sixth, go into their final match against Aston Villa at White Hart
Lane knowing a point would ensure they take the Europa League spot in what
could well be Tim Sherwood's last match in charge. United, who beat FA Cup
finalists Hull City 3-1 in their last home match of the season, travel to
Southampton in what is almost certain to be interim manager Ryan Giggs's last
game in charge with Louis van Gaal expected to be named as the manager
following last month's departure of David Moyes. Only if United won and Spurs
lost would United take sixth place thanks to a superior goal difference. If
United fail to do that their 24-year run of European football since English
clubs were allowed to compete again after the end of the ban imposed following
the Heysel Stadium disaster, will come to an end. The last time United failed
to qualify for Europe before the ban was imposed in 1985 was in 1981 when they
finished eighth in the league. There is little to play for apart from pride and
prize money in the other games. Chelsea travel to bottom club Cardiff who are
returning to the Championship after their first season in the top flight since
1962 found them short of class. Fulham, also doomed after 13 years in the top
flight, host the season's most improved team Crystal Palace, who were deep in
relegation trouble when coach Tony Pulis arrived in November but have now
climbed to 11th.
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