Manuel Pellegrini welcomed seeing the Premier League title race being back in Manchester City’s hands after their win at Crystal Palace.

The 2011-12 champions on Sunday re-assumed control of their own destiny in the chase for the trophy by capitalising on Liverpool s earlier defeat to Chelsea with a 2-0 win.

Third-placed City are now just three points behind Brendan Rodgers side with a game in hand over the Merseyside club and also have a better goal difference, while Chelsea are just a point better off than the Etihad Stadium outfit and have also played a game more.

First-half strikes from Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure were enough to seal the points and Pellegrini was delighted with the day s developments.

It was a happy day and it was very important for us, he is…

Kylian Mbappe felt Monaco paid the price for missed chances in their Champions League semi-final defeat to Juventus.

Monaco went down to a 2-0 first-leg home loss, Gonzalo Higuain scoring both goals for the visitors.

Leonardo Jardim s men had made a bright start to the match, Mbappe twice being denied by Gianluigi Buffon prior to Higuain s opener.

Radamel Falcao and substitute Valere Germain were also thwarted by Buffon after the break and Mbappe felt his side s failure to be clinical proved decisive as Juve took advantage of the fewer chances they had.

We lacked a little bit of experience, but most importantly of all we weren t clinical enough in front of goal, Mbappe was quoted as saying by UEFA.

We created a lot of chances and just didn t tak…

Chelsea are basking in the glory of a fifth Premier League title in 12 years, with Antonio Conte continuing his run of club-level success.

The Blues have utterly dominated domestically this season, a streak of 13 wins on the spin late in 2016 sending them well clear of a chasing pack that has spent most of the campaign tripping over each other.

After Friday s 1-0 victory at West Brom got the party started, we examine the five key factors in Chelsea s title triumph.

CONTE S TACTICAL MASTERSTROKE

Saturday September 24, 18:15 This is when Chelsea s season really began.

As Michael Oliver signalled half-time at the Emirates Stadium, Conte knew the game was up, goals from Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil meant defeat at Arsenal was a formalit…

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta had his red card against Aston Villa rescinded by the Football Association on Tuesday following an appeal.

The defender was sent off for violent conduct in the final minute of Chelsea s 2-1 loss at Villa Park on Sunday after appearing to catch Jack Grealish in the face.

Azpilicueta was set to serve a three-match domestic ban at the start of next season, but that has now been overturned by the FA.

An FA statement read: An independent regulatory commission has removed Cesar Azpilicueta s three-match suspension following a successful claim of wrongful dismissal.

Regulation and discipline update on

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)

Despite their final-game loss to Villa, Chelsea finished fourth in the …

Mauricio Pochettino hailed Moussa Sissoko s contribution as Tottenham kept their Champions League last-16 hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Inter at Wembley.

Spurs were 10 minutes away from exiting Group B with a game remaining on Wednesday, but Sissoko s storming run led to substitute Christian Eriksen lashing home to move Pochettino s side up to second.

The result means Spurs now travel to group leaders Barcelona – who have already qualified for the knockout stages – in two weeks time knowing that a win would see them join Ernesto Valverde s side in the next round.

Sissoko has been a maligned figure since joining the club in 2016 from Newcastle United, but a series of swashbuckling performances in recent weeks have seen him become something of a cult hero …

(GSM) French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris believes that the France World Cup squad do not deserve bonuses after a disastrous showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Les Bleus returned home in disgrace with rumours of fighting and inept performances blighting their reputation.

The issue of bonuses due to those who figured in the tournament has been high on the French Football Federation s (FFF) agenda this week, with the matter yet to be resolved.

Patrice Evra, national skipper in South Africa,has called for the money to be donated to charity, although not all players are in agreement with that proposal.

Some are keen to collect their bonuses and distribute it out as they see fit.

Lyon keeper Lloris is among those favouring Evra s plan, as he bel…

(GSM) Diego Forlán has revealed that he is happy to stay with Atlético Madrid after receiving no serious offers from Europe s top clubs since the World Cup.

The 31-year-old striker, who was named the tournament s best player, had five goals to his name as he helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals.

Despite hinting that he would Atlético if the right offer came in, the Ballon d Or shortlisted candidate , Forlán insists he has no intentions of leaving after absence of solid approaches.

I feel so good at Atlético Madrid, he told France Football. It is a club that offers me everything I need. I am happy here.

Honestly, I didn t receive any concrete offers last summer.

Forlán feels he has reached the peak of his powers having had a frustrating i…

Manchester United face the mammoth task of taking on reigning champions Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

The two sides, champions in their domestic leagues last season, have experienced drastically contrasting fortunes this time around, with many tipping the German giants to be far too strong for their faltering opponents over two legs.

Bayern come into Tuesday s first leg at Old Trafford on the back of a 3-3 draw against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, only the third time this season that Pep Guardiola s men have dropped points in the league.

Having already clinched the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin last Tuesday, Guardiola rested several key players on Saturday as Bayern shift their focus to defending their co…

Stoke City are close to the signing of Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic, chairman Peter Coates has revealed.

The forward was expected to become a star at Camp Nou after making his debut as a 17-year-old in September 2007 and going on to score 12 goals in 48 goals in his maiden season.

Despite retaining a place in Pep Guardiola s plans, Bojan s goal output dried up and he has since failed to reach double figures in a league campaign.

A move to Roma came in 2011, though he failed to impress and the club from the Italian capital did not take up an option to retain him.

Loans to Milan and Ajax have followed in the last two seasons, with Bojan again struggling for game time and goals.

He now looks set to attempt to revitalise his career in Staffordshire, …