Manager Guardiola cautions team after 3-0 win over Brighton helps team regain top spot
\nNews agency
\nMANCHESTER
\nManchester City will need to win all six of their remaining Premier League games to retain the title, according to manager Pep Guardiola as he cannot see Liverpool slipping up before the end of the season.
\nCity edged back one point ahead of the Reds in the title race as second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva earned a 3-0 win over Brighton at the Etihad.
\nLiverpool had gone top with a 4-0 annihilation of Manchester United on Tuesday and Guardiola was gushing about the performance of Jurgen Klopp\u2019s men.
\n\u201cWe are facing one of the best teams ever. They have everything and that is why being there with them means a lot,\u201d said Guardiola.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s simple. Liverpool are going to win all the games. If we drop points they will be champions, if we win all our games we will be champions.\u201d
\nCity have experience of holding their nerve in a tight title race as they won their final 14 games three seasons ago to pip Liverpool by a point to win the league.
\nGuardiola showed his priorities lie with the Premier League and Champions League after leaving out a number of key players for a 3-2 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.
\nKevin De Bruyne was one of those restored after being rested as a precaution over an ankle injury.
\n\u201cWhen the people talk about my magnificent selection for the FA Cup it is for this (injuries),\u201d added Guardiola. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to take a risk because the Premier League is so important.\u201d
\nBrighton had won on the road at Arsenal and Tottenham in their previous two games and frustrated the English champions for the first 45 minutes.
\nBut there was little doubt over the outcome once De Bruyne\u2019s driving run through the heart of the Brighton defence teed up Mahrez to slot in his 23rd goal of the season eight minutes into the second period.
\nAny doubt over the outcome was removed once Foden\u2019s deflected effort from a corner worked to the edge of the box gave City a two-goal cushion.
\nSilva added a third eight minutes from time with an exquisite cushioned finish from De Bruyne\u2019s layoff at the edge of the area.
\n\u201cYou have to be perfect for us to come here and get anything and we weren\u2019t, said Brighton boss Graham Potter.
\nCity captain Ruben Dias made his return from injury after a two-month absence in the second half.
\nAnd the Portuguese\u2019s return might have come at the perfect time for Guardiola as John Stones limped off late on just six days before the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
\nNketiah double sinks Chelsea
\nEddie Nketiah boosted Arsenal\u2019s bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League as the striker\u2019s double inspired a dramatic 4-2 win against Chelsea on Wednesday.
\nNketiah was released by Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2015 and he exacted a measure of revenge with his first league goals this season.
\nThe 22-year-old put Arsenal ahead early on at Stamford Bridge before Timo Werner equalised.
\nMikel Arteta\u2019s side regained the lead trough Emile Smith Rowe, only for Cesar Azpilicueta to draw Chelsea level again.
\nNketiah settled a pulsating London derby when he punished shambolic Chelsea defending in the second half and Bukayo Saka bagged the fourth with a stoppage-time penalty.
\nAfter losing their last three games, Nketiah\u2019s crucial contribution lifted Arsenal back into the race to qualify for next season\u2019s Champions League via a top-four finish.
\nThe Gunners are in fifth place, behind fourth-placed Tottenham on goal difference with both teams having six games to play.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great night and the players deserve it. It has been a tough two weeks but you have to bounce back and show spirit,\u201d Arteta said.
\n\u201cI love the spirit of these players. When you lose matches you get criticised but for these players it is worth it. They are really growing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Manager Guardiola cautions team after 3-0 win over Brighton helps team regain top spot News agency MANCHESTER Manchester City will need to win all six of their remaining Premier League games to retain the title, according to manager Pep Guardiola as he cannot see Liverpool slipping up before the end of the season. City edged […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":256672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[6226,6227,6225],"class_list":{"0":"post-256656","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-epl","9":"tag-manchester-city","10":"tag-perfect"},"yoast_head":"\n