City close in on title as United, Liverpool win

Manchester City need just one more win to secure the Premier League title after a blistering first-half display secured a 3-1 win at Everton Saturday. Deliciously for City fans, the three points could be secured next Saturday at home against Manchester United although with that game sandwiched between the two legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, manager Pep Guardiola was keen to play down the chance of a title celebration. City took just four minutes to get in front with a superb volley from Leroy Sane after a fine cross from David Silva. The game was put beyond Everton within 37 minutes with a Gabriel Jesus header and a Raheem Sterling finish making it 3-0. Guardiola's side took their foot off the gas in the second half and Everton restored a little pride with a 63rd minute strike from Yannick Bolasie.

Jaw-dropping figures ?#PL pic.twitter.com/PExyW9xuTf

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2018

It has long been a matter of time before City formally clinch the title but next week's opponent head into the derby in second place and with a win under their belt after beating Swansea City 2-0 at Old Trafford. Romelu Lukaku reached 100 league goals by scoring in the first five minutes as United dominated a Swansea side who have been revitalised under manager Carlos Carvalhal. Alexis Sanchez struck before the interval, the Chilean forward's second goal for United, and the host comfortably saw out the victory at Old Trafford. Liverpool came from behind to win at Crystal Palace in manager Juergen Klopp's 100th league game in England and move five points ahead of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who visit fifth-placed Chelsea Sunday. Mohamed Salah scored their late winner, his 37th of the season in all competition, after the equaliser by Sadio Mane.

Man Utd are all that stand between Man City and a 3rd #PL crown ? pic.twitter.com/bTb9UIkkOW

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2018

Palace's Serbian penalty expert Luka Milivojevic had converted his seventh spot-kick out of eight this season to put the home side in front early on. Palace remained in trouble, only two points above the relegation zone. West Ham United jumped above their London rival with a comprehensive 3-0 home victory over a poor Southampton side, who were three goals down at halftime in manager Mark Hughes' first league game in charge and stayed in the bottom three. Marko Arnautovic, who fell out with Hughes after leaving Stoke City for West Ham in the close-season, scored two of the goals. Manager David Moyes was delighted with his team and their fans after protests marred the last home game, a 3-0 defeat by Burnley.

We are now only the third club to beat all other teams in a single @PremierLeague season, after Chelsea in 2005/06 and Manchester United in 2010/11 #mancity pic.twitter.com/7awbHDrryj

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 31, 2018

Huddersfield Town remained in trouble, three points above relegation, after losing 1-0 at Newcastle United to a goal by Ayoze Perez. Bottom club West Bromwich Albion, who have won only one league game out of 30 since beating Burnley in August, lost to the same opponent 2-1 at The Hawthorns. Ashley Barnes, with a spectacular bicycle kick, and Chris Wood against his former club were the scorers before Salomon Rondon grabbed a late consolation for West Brom. Brighton and Hove Albion were beaten 2-0 by Leicester City in a dramatic finish after Glenn Murray had his penalty saved by Kasper Schmeichel and Leicester's Wilfred Ndidi was sent off. In the other mid-table game, Jermain Defoe's equaliser in stoppage time earned Bournemouth a 2-2 draw at Watford.

Welcome to the #PL ? club, @RomeluLukaku9! ?#MUNSWA @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/fJRg4tvzLD

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2018

RESULTSBrighton 0 Leicester 2 (Iborra 83, Vardy 90+6)Palace 1 (Milivojevic 13-P) Liverpool 2 (Mane 49, Salah 84)Everton 1 (Bolasie 63) Man City 3 (Sane 4, Jesus 12, Sterling 37)Man Utd 2 (Lukaku 5, Sanchez 20) Swansea 0Newcastle 1 (Perez 80) Huddersfield 0Watford 2 (Femenia 13, Pereyra 49) Bournemouth 2 (King 43-P, Defoe 90+2)West Brom 1 (Rondon 83) Burnley 2 (Barnes 22, Wood 73)West Ham 3 (Mario 13, Arnautovic 17, 45+4) Southampton 0 SUNDAY'S MATCHESArsenal v Stoke and Chelsea v Tottenham