Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says his team took a “really big step” towards securing the Barclays Premier League with victory over Everton, but warned that the race to be champions for the second time in three seasons is not over yet.
After falling behind to a stunning goal from Ross Barkley, City, who had lost their previous four Barclays Premier League matches at Goodison Park, went into the break ahead after Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko struck.
In the second half a minute after Joe Hart had foiled Steven Naismith, Dzeko doubled the lead. Everton came back into the match through Romelu Lukaku’s header but City held on to move above leaders Liverpool on goal difference. Chelsea can go tp if they beat Norwich City today, with Liverpool travelling to Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
City have two matches in to play, at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday and to West Ham United a week today. Victory in both of those should secure the title for Pellegrini’s team.
"The worst thing we must do is think that today we finished the Premier League"
Manuel Pellegrini
"It is a really, really big step because to play here against Everton is really difficult,” Pellegrini said. “You can see that from the scores we have had here in other years.
“The worst thing we must do is think that today we finished the Premier League. We have to play teams who are not fighting for anything, they can play without pressure. We must try to win our last two games at home, then we will see what happens."
Pellegrini played down injury concerns about his goalscorers at Goodison Park. Aguero was taken off shortly after scoring, while Dzeko injured a shoulder. The City manager expected the Bosnian to be fit to face Villa but was more cautious over the Argentinian.
"I don't know if it is his groin if, his hamstring - it is a muscle problem but we don't know exactly, in this moment, what it is,” he said of Aguero. "He came to me to tell me that he was feeling some strange thing in his leg and he would try to continue playing as much as he can."
Remember you can follow how the Barclays Premier League action unfolded in our Carlsberg Live Match Centre at live.premierleague.com. The Carlsberg Live Match Centre brings you match facts and stats, manager press conference videos, action images, as well as the latest Fantasy Premier League points for your team.
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