Manchester City unsurprisingly reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a 5-0 decimation of Newcastle United that allowed the reigning champions to widen the gap between them and Liverpool with a three-point lead after their juggernauts display at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling again came through with two goals for the hosts with Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and Phil Foden also on target as they put the bitter disappointment of their Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid behind them.
Sterling early header and Laporte’s tap-in gave City full control before the interval while Rodri headed City’s third from a corner after the break and Foden scored his side’s fourth before Sterling struck again emphatically in stoppage time.
The visitors were clearly no match for City who advanced another step towards a fourth title in five seasons. City have 86 points to Liverpool’s 83 with both sides having three games remaining and it is City now who have a superior goal difference. Pep Guardiola’s side need seven points from their remaining three games to be guaranteed the title.
Liverpool will be up against Aston Villa on Tuesday with City up against Wolverhampton Wanderers a day after that.
“The defeat to Real Madrid was so, so big but football is like this. You have to switch on the focus for the Premier League because it is even more difficult,” Rodri said.
“We did brilliant today and we have to keep going. We expect nothing from Liverpool and we have to keep going. We have three finals and have to finish the season like we deserve.”