Fulham are next up for the rampant Manchester City, who now have Premier League glory in sight.
Pep Guardiola’s side swept to a 4-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, leaving top spot within touching distance as leaders Arsenal continued to crumble.
Second placed City are two points behind the Gunners and, with two games in hand, they are now favourites to secure their fifth title in six seasons.
But City defender Manuel Akanji knows there are still twists and turns in store during his team’s final seven league games, starting at Fulham on Sunday.
“It was a big game and a massive win for us. It helps us a lot but there’s still so many games to play,” he said.
“Seven games – still 21 points to grab so we can’t relax now on this win. We’ve got to go on Sunday and win the next game against Fulham.”
City have won 12 of their last 13 games in all competitions, including seven successive league victories.
In contrast, Arsenal have blown the eight-point lead they held at the start of April after four games without a win.
City’s third victory over Arsenal in just over three months underlined the gulf in quality between the teams.
“We have two games at home (following Sunday, versus West Ham and Leeds United), and I don’t want to anticipate because it’s not healthy, but this season at home, we feel comfortable with the people, the crowd,” Guardiola said of the Etihad Stadium, which was a rocking sea of sky blue on Wednesday.
“I think the next three games will be really, really important. But the most important thing is our destiny is in our hands. And when you arrive at the end of the season, whatever happened, it doesn’t matter. It’s our performance, to win the (remaining) games, it depends on us. This is the best way to approach the last seven games we still have.”
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Erling Haaland also found the net to claim the record for most goals in a 38-game Premier League season, with his 33rd strike of the campaign.
“The threat, Kevin-Erling, Erling-Kevin is so, so important,” Guardiola said. “Being together, when teams press so high and we regain balls with the space behind, they’re so dangerous, and we use it.”
Fulham lost to Aston Villa in their most recent outing after two successive wins.
They are 10th and well away from the relegation battle.