Man City claim top spot

West Ham midfielder Stewart Downing (R) is ecstatic after scoring the second goal against Tottenham Hotspur during their Premier League encounter at Upton Park yesterday. Photo: AFP

Manchester City claimed top spot in the Premier League and took a significant step towards the title by coming from behind to edge Everton 3-2 on Saturday.
Ross Barkley's stunner put hosts Everton ahead in the 11th minute, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and a brace from Edin Dzeko secured victory for Manuel Pellegrini's side despite Romelu Lukaku reducing the arrears.
City now lead previous leaders Liverpool on goal difference -- +59 to +50 -- and will therefore be practically assured of winning the title if they win their two remaining games.
Chelsea and Liverpool each have opportunities to take over at the summit over the next two days, but if City beat Aston Villa on Wednesday and win at home to West Ham United next weekend, they are unlikely to be caught.
Everton's defeat, meanwhile, means that Arsenal are guaranteed to finish at least as high as fourth, guaranteeing them a place in next season's Champions League play-offs.
Everton's fans were in the uncomfortable position of knowing that victory for their side would hand the title initiative to their city rivals Liverpool, but Barkley's strike was a goal that demanded to be celebrated.
After Steven Naismaith rolled Leighton Baines's pass into his path, the 20-year-old England midfielder looked up and arced a magnificent first-time shot into the top-right corner from 25 yards.
Aguero equalised just 11 minutes later, however, rattling home at the near post from Yaya Toure's pass, and although he was then forced off with an apparent groin injury, City powered on.
Dzeko put the visitors in front in the 43rd minute with an imperious header from a James Milner cross and after Joe Hart had saved from Naismith early in the second half, the Bosnian stabbed home Samir Nasri's cross to make it 3-1.
Lukaku's 65th-minute diving header brought Everton back into the game, but City survived a nail-biting last half an hour -- Hart notably saving from substitute Gerard Deulofeu -- to close on the title.
Meanwhile, Fulham and Cardiff City were both relegated after defeats in their penultimate games of the season left them unable to reach safety.
Fulham's 13-year run in the English top flight was ended by a 4-1 defeat at Stoke City, while Cardiff went straight back down to the Championship following a 3-0 loss at Newcastle United.

RESULTS
Aston Villa 3 (Westwood 1, Weimann 41, 45) Hull 1 (Bowery 28-og)
Everton 2 (Barkley 11, Lukaku 65) Manchester City 3 (Aguero 22, Dzeko 43, 48)
Manchester United 0 Sunderland 1 (Larsson 30)
Newcastle 3 (Ameobi 18, Remy 87, Taylor 90+1) Cardiff 0
Stoke 4 (Odemwingie 39, Arnautovic 54, Assaidi 73, Walters 82) Fulham 1 (Richardson 80)
Swansea 0 Southampton 1 (Lambert 90+3)
West Ham 2 (Kane 27-og, Downing 44) Tottenham 0