Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that his side do not yet have the advantage in the Premier League title race.
City pounced upon a rare Liverpool slip-up this afternoon, moving within three points of the league leaders courtesy of a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace just hours after the Reds had been beaten by the same scoreline at Anfield by Chelsea.
City's game in hand and superior goal difference means that the destination of the title is now in their own hands, but Pellegrini was keen to keep the focus on the next match rather than looking too far ahead.
"No advantage now, no, but it depends what we can do in the future, that's very important. We have always trusted that we can do it. The players knew the score [at Anfield], but it was a very professional performance. It could have been difficult for us to manage the game but we did it very well," Pellegrini told reporters.
"For the moment we'll continue in third position, so we have to play and win our three games. But the good thing is that the destiny is in our own hands at the moment. This league will be decided by a narrow margin, maybe one point, maybe even goal difference. We have to remain focused in ourselves, and in every single match. We are not thinking about goal difference, we are just thinking about how to beat Everton next week.
"The most important thing is just to concentrate our minds on the next game. If we win our three games, maybe and Liverpool win their two, then maybe the goal-difference will be important. But before that, we've got to concentrate on the games ahead of us. We must win the three games, I've said all year that all the big teams must feel pressure to win the title. Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United; all the big teams feel the pressure to win the title. Now we'll continue with the same pressure, but it's positive pressure."
Following their trip to Goodison Park next weekend, City end the campaign with back-to-back home matches against Aston Villa and West Ham United.
Barney Corkhill
