• Premier League

Toure: City must show no mercy

Manchester City have scored 79 Premier League goals this season but it is not enough for Yaya Toure © PA Photos

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Yaya Toure has called on his Manchester City team-mates to score as many goals as possible in order to find the extra edge in the Premier League title race.

City have scored 79 league goals so far this season and hold a goal difference of plus 49; five more than fellow title contenders Liverpool and 10 more than leaders Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho's side enjoyed a 6-0 demolition of Arsenal on Saturday and Toure - who grabbed a hat-trick himself against Fulham later that day - urged City to continue their heavy scoring to keep their advantage.

Pellegrini: We expect to win

David Moyes has not beaten Manuel Pellegrini in three attempts with Everton and Manchester United © Getty Images

• Manuel Pellegrini has set his sights on a derby double after declaring that his Manchester City side expect to win at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
• City defeated Manchester United 4-1 in September and go into their second meeting of the season 12 points ahead of their local rivals. It means that, for the first time in the Premier League era, City will go to Old Trafford as favourites.
• Pellegrini said: "We always expect to go and win. We hope it will be beautiful day."
• City have won on their last two trips to Old Trafford, 6-1 in 2011 and 2-1 in April 2013, with Pellegrini's reign kick-started by the 4-1 triumph at the Etihad Stadium in his first taste of the Manchester rivalry.
• He added: "It was important to win the first derby. It is a special match for the fans. A derby has a special importance because we know the fans enjoy winning against Manchester United."

He said the return of Sergio Aguero was key, the striker having contributed to City's title challenge with 15 league goals this season but struggling on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.

"This year will be very close so it's important we score a lot of goals," Toure said. "I hope [Sergio] Aguero can come back very soon because he is an important player and we need him."

City enter a crucial period with Tuesday's derby at Manchester United followed by a crunch clash away to Arsenal four days later.

Manuel Pellegrini's side trail Chelsea by six points with three games in hand, but Toure has warned his team-mates to expect a tough challenge and wants them to take any opportunity they get to pile the pressure on their rivals.

"Both games are important - we must be sharp, clever and very strong," Toure said. "United are not doing so well but you have to be careful against them.

"Arsenal, after losing to Chelsea, will be hungrier and want their fans to believe in them again. It is important we go into those games fully focused and with a lot of confidence.

"We have to do the job, play together and be strong - and any chance we get we will have to take. Then we will see what can happen.

"Scoring the winning goal against [Manchester] United is not on my mind - the main thing is to win the game. If we can win there it will be very good. If they play like they did against Olympiakos, we have to be careful."

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