Manchester City defeated relegation-threatened Everton at Goodison Park, putting them one win away from defending their Premier League crown.
With games against Brighton and Brentford as insurance, Pep Guardiola’s team has three points against Chelsea at home next Sunday and can clinch a third straight championship with a win.
Brighton defeated Arsenal 3-0, extending City’s lead over the competition by four points and positioning them to potentially win another Premier League championship.
Everton suffered a huge loss due to Mason Holgate’s shocking error at the far post where he was unmarked and hooked the ball over from a few yards.
Up until that time, City had been playing second best, but they showed off their efficiency in front of goal by scoring twice in the next two minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan was the hero of the show, contributing to each of City’s three goals with a beautiful flicked finish before setting up Erling Haaland for a close-range header with a cross.
In the second half, the midfielder curled in a beautiful free kick from the edge of the area as City easily won.
Everton’s setback has them uneasily looking over their shoulders with two games left, only one point above the relegation zone.
Unstoppable City
city-wide rivals With their legendary victory in 1999, Manchester United is the only English side to have won the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in consecutive years.
Those events will determine how near City can make that achievement in the coming days.
After cruising to an easy victory over Everton, they are now just one title victory away from claiming their fifth in the last six years. United will try to prevent them from duplicating their historic feat in the FA Cup final at Wembley next month.
The victory City seeks most in Europe’s premier club championship will come against holders Real Madrid on Wednesday, with the semi-final tantalizingly tied at 1-1 following the first leg.
With 12 straight victories in the league and a 22-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, Guardiola’s team is also in excellent form.
It was an outstanding season-ending effort. To become champions, we still need two more wins. Recovery step by step,” remarked Guardiola.
Until captain Gundogan, making his 300th appearance for the club, controlled a pass from Riyad Mahrez and hooked in a lovely finish with his back to goal then converted a magnificent free-kick, City’s slick operators had not been able to create a chance.
Striker Haaland scored his 52nd goal of an incredible season, breaking Dixie Dean’s Everton record of 63 goals in a single season, with just two touches of the ball between touches.
The Norwegian may still have six games to beat Dean’s record, which has stood unbroken for 96 years, despite a magnificent scissor kick that went astray in the second half.
