{"id":280904,"date":"2016-12-31T06:50:45","date_gmt":"2016-12-31T06:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=280904"},"modified":"2016-12-31T06:50:45","modified_gmt":"2016-12-31T06:50:45","slug":"premier-league-title-race-chelseas-to-lose-or-six-clubs-in-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=280904","title":{"rendered":"Premier League title race: Chelsea’s to lose or six clubs in race?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola feels there are still six clubs in the Premier League title race.<\/p>\n

Third-place City visit second-place Liverpool on Saturday (17:30 GMT) as they look to close the gap on leaders Chelsea, who are six points clear.<\/p>\n

Such is the size of the advantage that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says it is “Chelsea’s title to lose”.<\/p>\n

But Guardiola said: “Six teams are fighting for the title and the Champions League qualification.”<\/p>\n

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\"Pep<\/div>\n<\/div>
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The Reds have won their last three league games against City, who have not won at Anfield since 2003 – a run of 14 Premier League and cup games.<\/p>\n

The two sides are separated by just a single point, but they could find themselves even further behind the Blues, who host Stoke earlier on Saturday (15:00 GMT).<\/p>\n

Former Barcelona boss Guardiola added: “Liverpool are a contender. The contenders are really tough. It will be a good fight until the end of the season. Anfield will be a big role for them. We have to match their intensity.”<\/p>\n

The Spaniard also confirmed striker Sergio Aguero is “ready” to return after serving a four-game domestic suspension.<\/p>\n

‘This league is not easy’<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Diego<\/div>\n<\/div>
Chelsea striker Diego Costa is the Premier League’s top scorer this season with 13 goals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

…but Chelsea are making it look just that at the moment.<\/p>\n

Victory over Bournemouth in their last league game stretched Antonio Conte’s side’s winning run to 12 games – a club record – and they last dropped points in September against Arsenal.<\/p>\n

Italian manager Conte said: “We have only played 18 games. Another 20 to finish the season. At the start of the season no-one trusted in this team to fight for the title. We have only six points more than the second team. There is still a long way to go. I am pleased with the players.<\/p>\n

“I think the most important thing in our head is to continue to work very hard and be focussed game by game. This league is not easy. Twelve wins in a row is a great achievement but it is not enough to win the league. I want to keep this run going.”<\/p>\n

‘Chelsea the super favourite’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arsenal had momentarily taken top spot early in December after beating Stoke, albeit having played a game more than Chelsea, but back-to-back defeats against Everton and title rivals City has seen them slip nine points off the pace.<\/p>\n

Frenchman Wenger said: “Chelsea is the super favourite. They have a big difference, it is theirs to lose. At the moment they have won it but they can still lose it. The head to head games are of vital importance.”<\/p>\n

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Source: BBC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n