• Premier League

Pellegrini: Title race not over yet

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini claims nothing has changed in the title race even though his side have now become overwhelming favourites.

City can move two points clear at the top of the Premier League, with just a game to play, if they beat Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

City's position has been enhanced after Liverpool squandered a chance to apply considerable pressure on Monday. Brendan Rodgers' side surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Crystal Palace, a result which cost them the chance to move three points ahead.

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Rodgers claimed his team lacked maturity
© PA Photos

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"We prepare exactly the same as we prepare for all the games during the year," Pellegrini said. "We know the next game is the most important game.

"We are not going to win the Premier League tomorrow if we win. We must win tomorrow and then we will see what happens on Sunday.

"All the teams are under pressure but if we play at home as we did so far, I hope we can win the game."

Pellegrini does not accept the claim of his Liverpool counterpart Rodgers that the race is now effectively over, even though the initiative is now clearly with City.

"I really don't know what Brendan said. I only know we have two games and we have to win the game against Aston Villa," Pelligrini said. "At the end of the week we will see which team has more points."

Pellegrini even claimed he did not watch Liverpool's dramatic late capitulation against Palace, when they conceded three times in the last 11 minutes.

When asked about the result, he said: "I feel it is just one result more in the Premier League. In the Premier League it is very difficult to win the games. You cannot be sure you are winning until the end, until the last minute."

Pellegrini sees the performance of Palace, who had already achieved their aim of avoiding relegation, as proof that there can be no room for complacency against Villa. Paul Lambert's side are also now guaranteed to be in the top flight next season.

"Maybe Crystal Palace didn't have anything to fight for but they were a very strong team and I am sure Aston Villa will be a very strong team for us," said Pellegrini, whose side lost at Villa Park in September.

But Pellegrini does accept that Liverpool's latest slip, a week after they were beaten by Chelsea, could provide his players with extra motivation.

"When Liverpool lost against Chelsea, of course there was a reaction in the team," he said. "Now they have a lot of trust in what we can do, also with a lot of responsibility. But I repeat, in the Premier League nobody knows who can win the game.

"We will try to do our best and the players are conscious that we depend just on these two games."

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City will be without top scorer Sergio Aguero, who limped off in Saturday's win at Everton with a groin problem, the latest in a catalogue of muscle injuries for the Argentinian.

The 25-year-old, who had scored his 28th goal of the campaign moments before leaving the action at Goodison Park, has missed 18 of City's last 31 games with various injuries.

But the player has not yet been ruled out of Sunday's season finale at home to West Ham.

Pellegrini said: "It was not 100% sure if he was completely fit for tomorrow, that is why I didn't want to have a risk with him, but we will see during the week if he can play on Sunday."

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