Win or lose, expect tears on Merseyside

Imagine the irony. By beating Manchester City tonight, Everton, arch-enemies of their red-shirted rivals across Stanley Park, will practically hand Liverpool their first-ever Premier League title on a silver platter.

Toffees fans the world over won’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Should it happen and Arsenal then get the three points they need to book a Champions League place tomorrow, tears will stream down a million blue-nosed faces at the realisation they’ve just put their neighbours into dreamland — for no profit of their own.

It’s a strange situation. Mind you, things could easily go the other way.

Liverpool won’t feel comfortable relying on Everton to do them a favour, not least because it’s such a difficult act of benevolence to deliver.

Boosted by the knowledge that Chelsea had just pulled off a triumphant hit-and-run job on Brendan Rodgers’ side last weekend, Man City’s millionaires were suddenly under pressure not to waste the opportunity.

Did the 2012 champions feel the heat? Not in the slightest.

Waltzing past Crystal Palace with cigars in one hand and a glass of whisky in the other, they treated “pressure” as if it was an old long-lost friend.

Now is not the time for them to get ahead of themselves, however. And City would be wise to heed lessons from the nature of Liverpool’s distress.

Intent on playing “their way”, the forward-thinking Reds (who only needed a draw against Chelsea to keep hold of their own destiny) charged head first into a wall of blue shirts, over and over and over again.

Frustrated, they fell into Chelsea’s trap and suddenly a five-point advantage was smashed to smithereens.

As admirable as it was for Rodgers to later claim “parking two buses” wasn’t his or Liverpool’s way, it was naive to not offer up a plan B.

With just a touch more pragmatism, by forcing Chelsea to come forward and boss possession, Liverpool may now sit a point better off ahead of this decisive weekend of Premier League action.

Manuel Pellegrini is a shrewd operator. This isn’t a coach who’ll approach a match of this importance by taking unnecessary risks that might cost his side a goal.

Noted for his love of positive football in Spain, a record of 93 goals in 35 matches with City (already well clear of last season’s final tally of just 66) the Chilean has more than delivered on his reputation. Aside from the odd Martin Demichelis horror show, his back four has been relatively risk-averse.

Here, they will start quickly and dominate possession. They’ll probe constantly looking for goals in the Everton half, but without taking too many chances.

Watching a video of their impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester United will serve as a useful reminder of the threat posed by the hosts on the break.

Boasting the immense Yaya Toure powering through the middle and the in-form Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero up front, they don’t really have to gamble either. At any stage, of any match, even if they’re chasing it desperately, City know they have goals in them.

Their fans are possibly more nervous than the players, for Everton are a long-standing bogey team.

In the 16 Premier League encounters staged at Goodison Park since 1992, the Manchester outfit have won just twice, scoring only 12 goals in total.

On each of their past four visits to “The People’s Club”, they have been soundly beaten 2-0, 1-0, 2-1 and 2-0.

It’s not going to be a stroll in the park.

With simple-looking home matches against Aston Villa and West Ham to follow, I think this is the 90 minutes that will decide the title.

If Manchester City take all three points, surely it’s game over for the rest.

Drop two or, heaven forbid, all three, and Liverpool are back in business.

Are Everton about to do their neighbours the greatest favour imaginable?

If they do or they don’t, one way or another, there will be tears shed on Merseyside in the next few days.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke

WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO WIN THE TITLE:

LIVERPOOL

Position: 1st (Played: 36, Points: 80)

Liverpool need six more points to win their first league title since 1990, but Manchester City’s superior goal difference means they should regain the title if they win their last three games.

CHELSEA

Position: 2nd (Played: 36, Points: 78)

Chelsea require six points to make it a winning return for Jose Mourinho, but need Liverpool and City to also lose one of their remaining games.

MANCHESTER CITY

Position: 3rd (Played: 35, Points: 77)

Theirs is the most clear-cut — win their remaining three games and the title will almost certainly be theirs, thanks to their superior goal difference. Seven points might even be enough for Manuel Pellegrini and his players to start celebrating if Liverpool fail to win one of their matches. AGENCIES