Pep challenges side to match late, late show staged by his title rivals

PEP Guardiola has told his City players they need to match Liverpool and Arsenal across 90 minutes as the title battle races to the finish line.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The Premier League champions thrashed Luton 5-1 on Saturday to sit on top of the table for the first time since November and there they remain after both Liverpool and Arsenal lost yesterday.

It still leaves little margin for error with just six league games left for each team and all of them involved in European competition as well. City added two late goals against Luton to add gloss to their scoreline - as well as improve their goal difference and Guardiola commented after the game how strong Liverpool and Arsenal are at finishing matches. Even with their two from Saturday, City have scored 14 in the final 10 minutes of matches this season but conceded eight; the records of Arsenal (15-5) and Liverpool (19-3) are far superior.