City fired up for last big obstacle

Manchester City will tomorrow tackle the fixture most likely to determine whether they regain the Barclays Premier League crown they won two seasons ago.

Everton lie in wait at Goodison Park and City, given a huge lift by Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over leaders Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, know a win on Merseyside followed by two home triumphs against Aston Villa and West Ham will get them the title.

City know the significance of tomorrow’s match. Everton’s chance of a top-four finish and place in next season’s Champions League may be fading, but they are a tough proposition at home.

And even though denying City maximum points would help out Mersey rivals Liverpool, Everton are unlikely to be anything but fully motivated for the teatime showdown.

City midfield dynamo Fernandinho says he and his team-mates are fired up for the challenge, too.

He said: “We are back with a big chance of being champions again, we are not depending on other teams – it only depends on us, and that has changed a lot.

“It's a massive game for both teams. We are trying to keep fighting for the title and need to play to win the game, which hopefully we can do.”

SPECULATION is mounting that Louis van Gaal will be named as the new Manchester United manager early next week.

Although stand-in boss Ryan Giggs guided the Reds to a 4-0 victory over Norwich in his first game in charge, van Gaal remains the man the United board want.

Van Gaal wants to have the situation resolved long before he takes his Holland team to the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Giggs will lead United again tomorrow against resurgent Sunderland.