EXCLUSIVE
Manchester City have been told to get the open-top bus parade ready following their comprehensive 4-0 win at Brighton.
City ran riot at the Amex Stadium on Thursday night to leapfrog Liverpool into second place and close within a point of leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.
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Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez and a double from Phil Foden handed City a precious three points as the title race entered its final stages.
There was an ominous feeling about City’s masterclass on the south coast but there is still time for more twists and turns, with Arsenal also hitting top form at the right time.
According to talkSPORT’s resident Tottenham fan Jamie O’Hara, City’s win at Brighton was enough evidence to suggest that for all of the Gunners’ endeavour, Pep Guardiola’s men already have the title wrapped up.
“Arsenal have got to play Spurs, it’s an easy three points for Spurs,” O’Hara cheekily told a jubilant but cautious Manchester City fan on the Sports Bar. “You’ve got a game in hand – it’s all over, get the open top bus parade ready.
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“Just repair Liverpool’s farewell tour bus and take that over to Manchester, get it fixed up and get the tour bus ready.”
The fan wasn't quite as bullish as the talkSPORT host and predicted that this season’s title race would go to a final-day shootout between City and Arsenal.
But co-host Jason Cundy admitted the reigning champions look like they're in title-winning mode.
Cundy said: "This is how it should be. Man City should be going there at this stage of the season and winning.
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"Maybe not as comfortably as they did. But they've got their trophy heads on. They've got their eye on the prize. The eye of the tiger.
"They've got their noses down. You think they might struggle at Brighton? Not today."
Mark Goldbridge believes Jurgen Klopp knows the Premier League title race is over for Liverpool, but the North London derby will be pivotal for Arsenal to stop the 'juggernaut' of Manchester City
City host West Ham on the final day while Arsenal entertain Everton at the Emirates.
But there is plenty of football to be played before then and this weekend’s fixtures could prove pivotal in determining the destination of this season’s title.
Arsenal head to north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday with nothing less than three points acceptable if Mikel Arteta’s side hope to end their 20-year title drought.
A home clash with Bournemouth follows before a potential blockbuster against Manchester United at Old Trafford on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Meanwhile City head to relegation hopefuls Nottingham Forest on Sunday before games against Wolves, Fulham and Tottenham.