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Liverpool eye title after riding emotional wave to sink City

Last updated on: April 14, 2014 16:42 IST
Liverpool players celebrate in the dressing room after their win over Manchester City on Sunday

Liverpool beat ManchesterCity 3-2 in a dramatic and emotionally-charged game at Anfield on Sunday to move within touching distance of the Premier League title.

Demba Ba's goal earned Chelsea a 1-0 win at 10-man SwanseaCity and kept them two points behind leaders Liverpool with four matches left in the season.

Chelsea visit Liverpool in a potential title decider on April 27 when victory for Jose Mourinho's team could let in City, who trail the Merseyside club by seven points but have two games in hand.

Emotions were running high all day at Anfield as the club commemorated 25 years since the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 of their supporters died at an FA Cup semi-final.

There was a minute's silence before kick-off and captain Steven Gerrard, whose 10 year-old cousin was one of those killed, finished the afternoon in tears before gathering his team in a celebratory huddle.

Gerrard refused to talk up the possibility of Liverpool's first title since 1990 after leading his side to a 10th successive victory.

"That win means so much, that is such a big result for us," he told Sky Sports.

"But nothing is ours yet. The important thing now is not to get carried away with that result."

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Liverpool eye title after riding emotional wave to sink City

Last updated on: April 14, 2014 16:42 IST
Liverpool players celebrate a goal by Philippe Courtinho (obscured) during their match against Manchester City during their English Premier League match at Anfield in Liverpool on Sunday

Manager Brendan Rodgers, who has revitalised the team in two seasons since taking over, hailed "a remarkable performance".

"I thought we were incredible today," he said.

"We showed so much spirit and quality. We have been put under pressure in a very big game but you can see from the quality of our football that we are coping with it."

British bookmakers reacted to the victory by installing Liverpool as title favourites.

"Today is an historic day as Liverpool have never been favourites to win the Premier League title since its formation over 20 years ago," said a spokesman for William Hill.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini, however, believes his team still have everything to play for.

"If we win our two games in hand we will be a point behind Liverpool, who still have to play Chelsea. The title does not finish today," he said.

Source: REUTERS
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