How title race stands after Man City take advantage of…

How title race stands after Man City take advantage of Liverpool slip-up

As has often been the case in recent years, this season has seen Manchester City and Liverpool battle it out for top spot and an exciting conclusion remains in store.

With three games left to play, Pep Guardiola's troops sit top of the pile on 86 points boasting a three-point advantage over the Reds who are breathing down their necks in second. Match-week 35 saw Liverpool play first when they welcomed Spurs to Anfield for what was undoubtedly the toughest game left in their run-in.

Surprisingly, Klopp's side looked second-best at times as they struggled to come to terms with Antonio Conte's set-up that saw them make full use of their wing-backs and hit the Reds on the counter. Spurs actually went one-nil up just before the hour mark when Son Heung-Min tapped home unmarked from close range.

Luis Diaz's deflected equaliser ensured they came away from the game with a point but in truth a 1-1 score-line suited neither of the two teams. Focusing on Liverpool, the draw briefly put them top of the table but the feeling around the ground was one of fear and regret given the ground conceded in the race for the title.

Klopp's post-match comments made for more interesting reading, with the German claiming: "Imagine City would lose at one point – I can’t see it or imagine that – and because we don’t believe any more, we then cannot use it. That would be really insane. The boys are absolutely in the mood they should be now – very disappointed. That’s fine.

"But you overcome things and that’s not a general problem. If, in the moment when we get the first little stone thrown in our way, we stop doing it – I wouldn’t like that too much, to be honest. It’s just we have to show resilience – we will."

Jurgen Klopp has admitted he can't imagine Pep Guardiola's Man City dropping any points from this point onwards ((Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))

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City went into their game at home against Newcastle less than 24 hours later with increased pressure on them to respond given Liverpool offering them the chance to put some daylight between the two.

As Klopp predicted, City played like a team who do not look like dropping points in the league anytime soon as they ran riot against the Magpies - putting five past Eddie Howe's side with no reply. There was no sign of any European hangover, despite the fact City were dumped out of the Champions League in the most dramatic of circumstances just four days prior.

The win means City are very much in the driving seat with three games left to play and in theory could even be crowned as champions as early as next Sunday if certain results go their way.

Liverpool make the trip to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa on Tuesday night in a clash that already has plenty of storylines surrounding it given Reds icon Steven Gerrard could guide Villa to a win that would all but end his former side's hopes of winning a second title in three years.

If Villa do spring a surprise and win or even hold Liverpool to a draw, two consecutive wins for City away at Wolves on Wednesday and at West Ham on the Sunday would seal their status as champions.

If the race is to go to the wire, the final day fixtures are kind to both sides given both Liverpool and City play at home against Wolves and Aston Villa respectively. While there could still be plenty of twists and turns yet - it is very much advantage City at this late stage.