Manuel Pellegrini is refusing to give up even if Liverpool get all three points when they play second place Chelsea and City Lose To Crystal Palace. Even though that would leave Liverpool needing just one point to be crowned champions. But if Chelsea do beat Liverpool, and City succeed in all their remaining games, they can win the Premier League and Pellegrini told the Manchester Evening News: "I don't think Sunday will be decisive.
"There are a lot of examples in football to say not. If you remember the last title City won, against United, in the last few minutes, football is never finished.
"Liverpool could win on Sunday and then maybe the other two games will be very difficult for them.
"In the end, if you have a mathematical chance to win, football will never say it is final. They are two important games on Sunday, but both teams have to win their other games as well.”
City have been playing catch-up in the title race all season, trailing early pace-setters Arsenal, then chasing Chelsea, and finally trying to keep pace with Liverpool’s winning run.
Despite some breathtaking football and eye-catching results, City have spent a total of five days atop the table this season — now Pellegrini is hoping they can make their game in hand count, get a helping hand from one of Liverpool’s opponents, and finish on top.
"For us all season it has been very difficult to get to the top of the league,” he said.
"If you look at the 34 games we have played, only once or twice were we top of the table.
"With three games being postponed, you don’t have nine points, you still have to win them, so it has been very difficult for our team in motivation, to think we were at the top of the table.
"Since we lost against Liverpool, our future hasn’t depended on what we do, but we have a duty to try to win our games.”