City in box seat with stage set for climax

Starting tomorrow, seven games in nine days will decide the destination of the Premier League title for 2014. But it might not even take as long as that...

Casting a caustic eye on the slip-ups which have already littered the run-in, Roy Keane remarked during the week that it seemed no one wanted to lift the trophy but, whether by accident or design, the winners will definitely be revealed, at the very latest, next Sunday, when all three contenders share a final-day 3pm kick off.

Neutrals, and Sky television, will be hoping it goes down to the wire but there’s also a chance the matter could be settled as early as Wednesday night in favour of either Manchester City or Liverpool, though not Chelsea.