Blue moon you saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon
You knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a pray'r for
Someone I really could care for
And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper "Please adore me"
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold!
Blue moon! Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Manchester City took a giant stride towards their second Premier League title in three years as a second-half rout of Aston Villa moved them top of the table with one game left to play.
City had spent only 11 days at the summit all season, but now lead Liverpool by two points with a far superior goal difference heading into Sunday's final round of matches.
They effectively need a point at home to West Ham, while Liverpool will host Newcastle knowing their hopes of a first championship in 24 years are looking unlikely.
City could not breach Villa's stubborn defence for more than an hour, but two goals from Edin Dzeko and one from Stevan Jovetic secured the victory before Yaya Toure rounded off the scoring with a spectacular run and finish for his side's 100th league goal of a remarkable campaign.
Exactly three weeks on from the draw against Sunderland that derailed City's title bid and deflated their fans, the atmosphere and belief around Etihad Stadium was transformed.
Liverpool's defeat by Chelsea and draw at Crystal Palace on Monday handed Manuel Pellegrini's side the initiative and following a low key start - not helped by torrential rain and a sparsely populated stadium caused by heavy traffic outside - they piled forward for an opening goal.
Aleksandar Kolarov and Toure were denied by Brad Guzan before David Silva failed to connect with a cross from close range as Villa at times deployed all 11 men behind the ball.
City were missing the cutting edge of Sergio Aguero, sidelined by a groin injury, and the visitors repelled waves of pressure before using their pace to occasionally threaten on the counter-attack.
Lone-striker Jordan Bowery wasted a fine chance when he volleyed wide from Ryan Bertrand's cross and an effort by Andreas Weimann, one-on-one with Pablo Zabaleta, was deflected wide.
City and Pellegrini looked calm, but there was anxiety in the stands after a Silva shot was blocked and Samir Nasri volleyed wide when it seemed certain he would convert James Milner's cross.
The second half started much as the first ended and the frustration around the ground - a result of City's profligacy and perceived time-wasting from Villa - continued to grow as the rain returned.
Know a draw will be enough to secure the title due to their goal difference being 13 goals better than Liverpool's.
But Pellegrini signalled his intent by replacing a midfielder with a forward - Jovetic coming on for Milner - and the move paid off spectacularly as Villa failed to cope with City's re-jigged formation.
Jovetic took a position alongside Dzeko up front and that sucked Villa back and in, allowing Silva space to find Zabaleta racing up from right-back. The Argentine crossed low for Dzeko to convert.
City's wild celebrations showed how crucial that strike could prove and their relief soon turned into pure joy when a carbon copy move between Silva and Zabaleta led to a Nasri shot being saved and Dzeko tapping in the rebound.
There was a scare when Weimann headed against the crossbar, but Jovetic curled home to wrap up the points and Toure applied the final flourish by running from his own half, outpacing several defenders and slotting emphatically past Guzan to put City within touching distance of trophy.
For reaction from Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini see here.
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "I thought we did fantastic. I am really proud of the team and the nerves were starting to set in.
"I didn't think it was easy for them, I couldn't be prouder of my own team.
"They are in the driving seat but you never know on the last day of the season."
PSG escape with £20m fine for breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play rules
UEFA are set to further infuriate Manchester City by announcing that Paris Saint-Germain will face only a £20million one-off fine for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.
City are already upset with European football's governing body over proposals to fine them £49m, payable in three instalments, and impose sanctions that would cut their Champions League squad cut from 25 to 21.
It was thought that big-spending PSG would face a similar 'settlement' following an investigation into their finances - in particular a £167m sponsorship deal with Qatar Tourist Authority.
However, Sportsmail can reveal that PSG, confirmed as French champions on Wednesday night, will face a significantly smaller fine.
The move will incense City's Abu Dhabi owners, who feel harshly treated after reducing their annual losses from £98m to £52m over the past two years.
City are believed to have until Friday to accept the settlement or appeal to a panel empowered to impose even harsher, non-negotiable sanctions, including possible Champions League exclusion.
It was unclear whether PSG would face similar Champions League squad cuts and imposition of a salary cap but coach Laurent Blanc admitted UEFA's action means his club 'won't be able to do everything it wants' in Europe next season.
So fitting majestic Yaya Toure scored 100th league goal to start title party
The game had seeped into stoppage time and Manchester City had taken a giant leap closer to the title.
They were 3-0 up and Aston Villa were well beaten when Yaya Toure got the ball deep in his own half and set off.
There are few finer sights in the Premier League than Toure in full flow. He is speed and grace and power personified.
He ran and he ran and the Villa defenders could not get near him. He outstripped them all.
When keeper Brad Guzan came out to meet him, Toure stroked the ball past him into the back of the net.
It was City’s 100th league goal of the season and there could have been no finer way to reach the landmark.
More than that, though, it was a symbol of the champagne football that has taken the Eastlands club to the brink of their second title in three years.
Toure has been majestic this season. He has scored 20 goals from midfield and imposed his quality on the league.
Although Luis Suarez beat him to both the players’ and the writers’ Footballer of the Year awards, those decisions are always a subject for fierce debate. If the voting had closed this coming Sunday, maybe they would have been even tighter.
If City clinch the title by drawing or beating West Ham at the Etihad on Sunday, missing out on those awards is unlikely to cost Toure any sleep.
But even though he is widely admired, he still feels he does not get the acclaim he deserves.
He said last month that he was not mentioned in the same breath as players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo because he was African.
Fury as ticket for City's crunch match appears on eBay for £3,000
One fan prompted a storm on Twitter when he posted an image of a ticket on eBay for Sunday's title-decider against West Ham.
A fan has been accused of cashing in on the nail-biting title race by touting tickets for City’s final crunch match for up to £3,000.
The Blues are tipped to win the title but everything depends on their performance against West Ham on Sunday.
One fan prompted a storm on Twitter when he posted an image of a ticket for the title-deciding match on eBay, asking for bids above £950 or an immediate sale price £3,000.
The listing, which said the buyer was based in Dukinfield, is no-longer available on eBay and it is not known if the ticket was sold or withdrawn from sale.
According to FA and club rules, season tickets are not transferable with the club able to reject anyone who takes up the seat.
And there was a furious reaction on Twitter from fans who were stunned that any fan would miss out on the chance to watch the team’s title-decider.
One City fan Tweeted: “Some guy selling his season ticket for £3,000 on eBay for the West Ham game. Might think I’m mad but I’d never sell mine. City over money.”
Another said: “Imagine wanting to sell your ticket that you’re probably going to see City win the title with.”
Tickets for the crunch match were being offered for sale on a number of online forums.
Ticketbis.net was offerering a number of seats for the match, ranging from £238 in the away fans section to £1,257 in the Longside Upper Tier.
Manchester City make it impossible for Barca to lure Aguero
Lionel Messi's desire for Barcelona to sign his pal Sergio Aguero was happily received in Catalonia. If a player in the Premier League made such a demand, or was reported to have, then the backlash would be huge, but Messi has managed to skip around any criticism.
That's probably because the Catalan media would also love to see Aguero playing for Barcelona. The Argentine is very highly rated in Spain from his time at Atletico Madrid and, perhaps more pointedly, he's a favourite of Florentino Perez. The Real Madrid president would love Aguero at his club but realises that it's an almost impossible ask, if Barcelona were able to achieve that then it would be a poke in the eye for Perez.
However, it's probably even more unlikely he'd go to Barcelona than Real Madrid. Catalan TV station TV3 have reported, according to Sport, that Manchester City would do everything to stand in the way of a deal and make it impossible for a transfer to happen.
The only way that changes is if Aguero forced a transfer and, in that case, TV3 say he'd cost €70m, that's £58m, but is probably plucked from thin air.
That the Catalan media are talking about how impossible the move would be, rather than how much Aguero wants it - a usual unsettling tactic - is a good thing for Manchester City.
Vincent Kompany urges Manchester City players to "stay focused"
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has warned his teammates to "stay focused" as they close in on their second Premier League title.
The Citizens defeated Aston Villa 4-0 last night to move within one point of the title.
A draw against West Ham United on the final day at the Etihad will be enough for City to claw the league trophy back from city rivals Manchester United, due to their superior goal difference over second-place Liverpool.
"We need to stay focused," Kompany told Sky Sports News. "It feels like we just have to do everything right again and then hopefully we'll be able to enjoy a good day on Sunday. But the job is still there to be done.
"I expect a similar kind of game against West Ham. Anything is possible, the main thing you have to carry with you in football is belief that anything can happen. We did that and now we've put ourselves in a position again where it's in our own hands.
"I'm sure Liverpool players and fans will hope, so therefore we just need to be careful and do our job."
Elsewhere on the final day, Liverpool take on Newcastle at Anfield.
Agent of Manchester City star meets with officials of other club
Tales of the unhappiness of Aleksander Kolarov continue in Italy, almost daily. The latest is from Calciomercato who say that the defender isn't completely at ease with manager Manuel Pellegrini. They claim Kolarov has had a season of ups and downs, but more of the latter and that's why a move could be on.
It's claimed that an agent representing the Manchester City player, Sergio Berti, has met officials of Juventus. Calciomercato are keen for people to believe they haven't grasped this from thin air and even give the details of where the meeting happened... at the Westin Palace in Milan.
Whilst Juventus interest in Kolarov wouldn't be a shock, any idea that he's had some kind of difficult season with Peelegrini seems wide of the mark. There has been no other season when Kolarov has started more games for Manchester City, or provided more assists whilst he's been at it.
The 28 year old's contract ends in June 2015, which means Manchester City, and the player, have a decision to make
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Arsenal and Manchester City are monitoring Javi Martinez, 25, amid reports that Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder is disillusioned with life under manager Pep Guardiola. TalkSHIT
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is planning to test former club Real Madrid's determination to hold on to Germany anchorman Sami Khedira. The Spanish club value the 27-year-old at £36m. Daily Star
Liverpool have emerged as favourites to sign Benfica playmaker Nicolas Gaitan ahead of Manchester City and Manchester United. A bid of £20m would be enough to prise the 26-year-old Argentina international from the Portuguese champions. Footylatest
Liverpool want to add Barcelona winger Cristian Tello to their squad for next season and have approached the Catalan club with an £8m offer for the 22-year-old. Metro
Inter Milan are interested in Chelsea anchorman Jon Obi Mikel, 27, after the Nigeria international's fall from favour at Stamford Bridge. Daily Mirror
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender, 25, has quashed speculation linking him with Arsenal, saying he is not yet ready to leave the German club. Metro
Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa, 25, will ignore interest from Napoli and stay at Old Trafford. Daily Express
Besiktas, along with Valencia and Malaga, will offer Cardiff midfielder Gary Medel, 26, the chance to move away from the relegated Bluebirds this summer. TalkSHIT
Manchester United striker Will Keane, 21, could follow Paul Pogba to Juventus after failing to agree terms on a new contract at Old Trafford. DSSC
Crystal Palace are set to start contract talks with 24-year-old winger Yannick Bolasie after interest from the likes of Italian club Fiorentina and Turkish side Besiktas. Sun
Louis van Gaal, favourite for the Manchester United manager's job, will offer Ryan Giggs the chance to be his assistant at Old Trafford. Daily Star
Meanwhile, Manchester United coach Phil Neville says the day former boss David Moyes was sacked was "one of the toughest of my life". Independent
West Brom manger Pepe Mel will return to Spain to take up the reins at Malaga at the end of the season. DSSC
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis will earn a £2m bonus for keeping his side in the Premier League after taking over from Ian Holloway in November with the Eagles in the relegation zone. Daily Mirror
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino is poised to sack 70 staff at Elland Road in an attempt to reduce costs. Daily Star
Crystal Palace are interested in Bordeaux's 29-year-old Nicolas Maurice-Belay and Marseille's Thomas Ephestion, 18. Both are midfielders. L'Equipe
Real Madrid assistant manager Zinedine Zidane has denied he is moving to French side Bordeaux next season, saying his current priority is the Spanish team. AS
Inter Milan owner Erick Thohrir is preparing a shock move to bring Real Madrid's 26-year-old striker Karim Benzema to San Siro. Tuttosport
Liverpool target, midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, 22, says he will remain at Bayern Munich for another season. Bild
Japanese second division side Kyoto Sanga showed that planning made perfect as a free-kick training routine featuring a series of dummies reaped dividends with a goal against Yokohama. Metro
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