Title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal go into their matches on Sunday knowing it is a day that could define where the Premier League Trophy ends up.
City remain one point ahead of the Gunners with a match in hand and travel to Everton, who are fighting relegation but have been buoyed by Monday's 5-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion, whom Arsenal will face immediately after the fixture at Goodison Park.
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Pep Guardiola is focusing on what he sees as a tough test at Everton, where he was handed his heaviest defeat as a Premier League manager, a 4-0 loss in his debut 2016/17 season at City.
He has put to the back of his mind the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final at home to Real Madrid on Wednesday.
“Goodison Park during my six seasons here always has been so difficult,” Guardiola told the club's official website. “For the environment and now for the momentum [Everton have]. Sean Dyche is a good trainer of his team.
See: Premier League title race: When can champions be decided?
“It is also [difficult] because it’s between Champions League games, but my thoughts are just on Everton, no more than that. So we have to just focus on this game.
“We are 11 months working for Premier League, I don’t want to be distracted by the Real Madrid game.”
'Arsenal will get nine points'
Guardiola feels his team have to maintain their winning run as he sees Arsenal claiming maximum points from their three remaining matches, at home to Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers and away to Nottingham Forest.
“Definitely they are going to win the three games they have left,” he said. “I would like the games they have against Brighton, Forest, Wolves to drop points, but with long weeks to prepare they will do it with nine points.”
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man City
MCI
|
38 | +61 | 89 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
38 | +45 | 84 |
His Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta says victory at home to Brighton is required to maintain his players’ belief to win the title.
“That’s what we’re here for,” he told the club's official website. “It starts on Sunday again, there are three games to go, this is the crucial one and right now we want to beat them and elevate our hopes and enthusiasm to keep going because everything is still to play for.”
Fitness news
The two managers had contrasting news on the fitness of key defenders.
City are hopeful of Nathan Ake returning from a hamstring injury that has forced him out of two matches.
“Much better but I don’t know,” Guardiola said when asked about Ake’s fitness. “We have training in a few hours and we will see.”
Arteta hopes that Oleksandr Zinchenko will be available against Brighton after the left-back sustained a calf injury during the 2-0 win at Newcastle United last Sunday.
Centre-back William Saliba remains sidelined with a back injury, but the boss praised Jakub Kiwior, a January signing from Spezia, who has featured in back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Newcastle.
“He’s been really impressive, really composed, really calm,” Arteta said. “He’s been brilliant.
“Obviously two very difficult opponents with a lot of individual talent to defend in many situations and he’s dealt with the situations in a great way.”