Riyad Mahrez had a late penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski as Manchester City missed the chance to move six points clear of Liverpool in a thrilling 2-2 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium.
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| IMAGE: Riyad Mahrez missed a late penalty as Man City fought back from two goals down to draw with West Ham |
Pep Guardiola's side came into the game knowing victory would put them on the brink of the title but having fought back from two goals down, they had to settle for a draw after Mahrez's 86th-minute spot-kick was repelled by Fabianski.
West Ham had threatened to blow the title race wide open as the brilliant Jarrod Bowen scored two breakaway goals in the first half at an emotional London Stadium, where captain Mark Noble later came off the bench for his last home appearance for the club.
But City fought back in the second period, with Jack Grealish beating Fabianski with a deflected strike from Rodri's header shortly after the break before Vladimir Coufal inadvertently headed a Mahrez free-kick into his own net.
City piled on the pressure in the closing stages and looked set to complete the turnaround when Craig Dawson was penalised for a foul on Gabriel Jesus in the West Ham box following a VAR review, but Fabianski guessed correctly to keep Mahrez's penalty out.
City moved four points clear of Liverpool and will be crowned champions if Jurgen Klopp's side lose their game in hand against Southampton on Tuesday, but any other outcome at St Mary's Stadium will ensure the race goes down to the final day.
TITLE RACE PERMUTATIONS
Man City are up to 90 points with one game to play. But Liverpool, with their game in hand, can still get to 92.
If Liverpool win at Southampton on Tuesday, City will need to at least match Liverpool's result against Wolves when they host Aston Villa at the Etihad to guarantee the title.
Defeat for Liverpool at St Mary's would mean City are champions.
A draw on the south coast would almost be enough for City, too. Liverpool would then require a huge win over Wolves and a Man City defeat to take the crown.
Pep Guardiola jokingly told Southampton to "beat Liverpool 4-0"
Pep Guardiola jokingly told Southampton to "beat Liverpool 4-0" when asked if he had a message for the Reds' opponents on Tuesday after Manchester City's 2-2 draw with West Ham.
Guardiola's side recovered from two goals down to claim a point at the London Stadium but missed the chance to win when Riyad Mahrez had a late penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski.
The draw keeps their title in their hands, but a Liverpool victory over Southampton in their game in hand, live on Sky Sports on Tuesday, will ensure the gap stands at a solitary point on the final day, when City host Aston Villa and Liverpool are at home to Wolves.
City could, however, be crowned champions before that if Liverpool are defeated at St Mary's Stadium.
Asked if he had a message for Southampton in his post-match press conference, Guardiola replied: "I would say, beat Liverpool four-zero!"
He added: "The big, big privilege we have is that, at home, it's in our hands. We don't have to look at anything else other than ourselves. We just have to give everything.
"I said [to the players], 'Don't be sad today because we gave a really good performance. It's fair, against this opponent, to arrive at the last day to decide who gets the title because both teams are so good'."
Speaking to Sky Sports about his side's performance in east London, Guardiola added: "Great comeback. And a comeback against this team in this stadium with the way they defend and how strong they are was an incredible credit to my team.
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