EPL

Gvardiol: Four more finals for City in title fight

By Sports Desk April 28, 2024

Josko Gvardiol believes there are "four more finals" for Manchester City between them and the Premier League title.

City won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday thanks to a first-half header from Gvardiol before a 71st-minute Erling Haaland finish wrapped up the points.

The victory moves City one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. The Gunners played earlier on Sunday, winning 3-2 at north London rivals Tottenham.

The destination of the Premier League title remains in City's hands as they bid for a sixth Premier League title in seven seasons, and Gvardiol acknowledged that every game between now and the end of the season is vital.

"We need to be focused on ourselves," Gvardiol told Sky Sports. "That’s what we are doing.

"There are four more finals to the end so let's do it."

Gvardiol's goal set City on course for victory at the City Ground, nodding home from Kevin De Bruyne's inswinging corner.

It was only Gvardiol's second Premier League goal since arriving at City from RB Leipzig prior to this season.

Gvardiol was somewhat surprised to get on the scoresheet, saying: "I didn't expect to score, but I found myself in a good position.

"It was really tough especially as the pitch was really dry. It's a more than important three points."

Pep Guardiola was delighted to come away with the three points against a Forest side fighting for their lives at the bottom, with the defeat to City leaving Nuno Espirito Santo's men in a perilous position, just a point above the relegation zone with three games to play.

"It was a difficult game," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "They played with bravery. They have fast players with a lot of quality.

"It is a great victory as we had a lot of games behind us. These games are so, so tough at this stage in the Premier League. Now we have a long week to recover."

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    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes

    In Fernandes’ absence, the Red Devils have lost both of their last two Premier League games.

    Since the Portugal international made his debut in the competition, they have won 40 per cent of their league games and averaged 1.3 points-per-game when he has not started; compared to a 53 per cent win rate and 1.8 points-per-game when he has been in their starting XI.

    Newcastle United – Sean Longstaff

    Following his strike against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, Longstaff has scored in successive Premier League appearances for the first time, with 60 per cent of his goals in the competition coming this season (six out of 10).

    Newcastle have never lost a Premier League match in which the midfielder has found the net (winning six, drawing three).

    MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

    Man United have lost just one of their 28 Premier League home games against Newcastle (winning 18, drawing nine), going down 1-0 in December 2013.

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    Although, Eddie Howe has never won a Premier League match away in Manchester against United or City in 14 attempts (drawing two, losing 12). Only Steve Bruce has managed more away games in Manchester in the competition without success (26).

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Manchester United: 42.9%
    Newcastle United: 29.3%
    Draw: 27.8%

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    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Brighton and Hove Albion – Joao Pedro

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    Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson

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    With 14 league goals already this season – none of which have been penalties – he could be the first Blues player to score 15 non-penalty goals in a Premier League campaign since Tammy Abraham in 2019-20.

    MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA

    Chelsea have won 29 points in the Premier League in 2024, with only the top three clubs – Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool – collecting more since the turn of the year. 

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    Meanwhile, Brighton have now failed to score more than once in each of their last 11 Premier League outings, their longest such run in the competition.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Brighton and Hove Albion: 33.8%
    Chelsea: 37.3%
    Draw: 28.9%

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