Manchester City managed to come back from two goals down to keep a distance in the Premier League title race as they finished Sunday’s match at West Ham in a 2-2 draw.
“We knew we had tough games, West Ham away,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “Now there is no debate about goal difference, and no debate about anything. We just have to just to win our more game and if we don’t, Liverpool will be champions.”
Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez actually had a penalty kick opportunity with under 10 minutes remaining in the match that could have secured the league title for City.
“I can assure you something,” Guardiola added. “In one week, our stadium will be so loud and we will give them all our lives, and they will give us all their lives, for 95 minutes. It’s an incredible privilege to win game at home to be champion.”
Jarrod Bowen scored in the 24th and 45th minute for the Hammers. Jack Grealish found the back of the net soon after the break (49′) before an own goal 20 minutes later sealed it at 2-2 (Vladimir Coufal, 69′ OG).
City dominated the possession battle 78-22, with 8 total shots on goal compared to two for West Ham.
“It was a really good game,” Guardiola said. “I think we played more than decent in the first half. Chances were so difficult to attack them.”
Guardiola and City have a four-point lead atop the PL table with Liverpool having a game in hand.
Liverpool’s next match is on Tuesday evening against Southampton.
West Ham have secured European football for yet another season. David Moyes and his side have managed to score in every home game this season and more importantly, have taken points from some of the league’s best teams.
Moyes acknowledged after the result that City are the best team his side have played this season.
“It is a great result for us,” Moyes said. “We’d have taken a point before the game because we were playing against an incredibly good team – I always thought we’d be in the game but they were so good with the ball and it was a job to stop them only scoring two to be honest with you.”
West Ham — sitting in seventh place in Premier League table — will finish their season on Sunday, 22 May against Brighton.
“I wanted to challenge and be around fourth or fifth this season so I was disappointed that we’ve dropped off,” Moyes added. “But we’ve got a great group of players and their resilience – they showed it today with all the blocks they put in.”
Assuming that Liverpool do not drop a point against Southampton, Manchester City will look to seal the title race on Sunday, 22 May against Aston Villa.
