London (dpa) - Job done in the Champions League, Manchester City
manager Manuel Pellegrini wants his side to carry their momentum into
their challenge for the Premier League title.
After a slow start, champions City have cut the gap between
themselves and leaders Chelsea to just three points with a string of impressive performances.
City have shown their resilience in recent weeks without the injured David Silva and now they will miss star striker Sergio Aguero for up to six weeks.
Pellegrini's side go to bottom side Leicester on Saturday fresh from a well-deserved 2-0 win in Rome in the Champions League which secured their place in the knock-out stages.
City could have captain Vincent Kompany back after hamstring and calf problems kept him out in midweek, and even without Aguero and Silva, they will be confident of maintaining their title push.
"I don't want to complain about the players that are not in the team," Pellegrini said after the win in Rome.
"We have had to play without Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva or Sergio Aguero (at times) and it is difficult, but this team deserves more credit than the press give.
"Now we must think about the Premier League. We have to reduce the points Chelsea have over us at the top of the table. We are just three points behind them and we have four games in December to think about."
Chelsea host Hull City having won just one of their last three league matches, and they lost their unbeaten record with defeat at Newcastle last weekend.
However, another Champions League win in mid-week, 3-1 over Sporting Lisbon, pleased Jose Mourinho and the Portuguese admitted he was pleased to see both City and Arsenal progress to the next stage, because it will help Chelsea's league chances.
"I am happy Man City and Arsenal went through because I work in England and I care about the prestige of English football," he said. "We have also Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in the Europa League so I wish them well too.
"At the same time it is good for us if direct opponents in the Premier League are involved in European competitions. Man United are not, they have the same advantage Liverpool had last year in the Premier League and it is a big advantage."
Third-placed United take on a stuttering Liverpool side, who went out of the Champions League in mid-week, at Old Trafford hoping to make it five wins in a row and stay in touch with the top two.
United were humbled 3-0 at home by a then-rampant Liverpool last season but striker Robin van Persie is warning that he and United are hitting top form.
"I've been feeling very well over the last couple of weeks," Van Persie said. "Physically, I can make my runs over and over again. I had a feeling that it was coming.
"I can play 90 minutes easy and every time it gets easier. I could keep going in the last minutes and that's what you want.
"Then the goals, assists, wins will come. I just have to keep it going and play more.
"The next game is Liverpool, so we're looking forward to that. We are really happy that we are on the way up now. We have to keep the momentum going."
Arsenal will be out to close the gap on the two teams immediately above them - West Ham and Southampton - by beating Newcastle at the Emirates.
At the other end of the table, second-bottom Burnley host Southampton while Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to stay above the relegation zone by getting a result at Everton on Monday night.
West Ham take on Sunderland, Crystal Palace host Stoke, Aston Villa make the short journey to West Brom and Swansea welcome Tottenham in the weekend's other matches.
After a slow start, champions City have cut the gap between
themselves and leaders Chelsea to just three points with a string of impressive performances.
City have shown their resilience in recent weeks without the injured David Silva and now they will miss star striker Sergio Aguero for up to six weeks.
Pellegrini's side go to bottom side Leicester on Saturday fresh from a well-deserved 2-0 win in Rome in the Champions League which secured their place in the knock-out stages.
City could have captain Vincent Kompany back after hamstring and calf problems kept him out in midweek, and even without Aguero and Silva, they will be confident of maintaining their title push.
"I don't want to complain about the players that are not in the team," Pellegrini said after the win in Rome.
"We have had to play without Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva or Sergio Aguero (at times) and it is difficult, but this team deserves more credit than the press give.
"Now we must think about the Premier League. We have to reduce the points Chelsea have over us at the top of the table. We are just three points behind them and we have four games in December to think about."
Chelsea host Hull City having won just one of their last three league matches, and they lost their unbeaten record with defeat at Newcastle last weekend.
However, another Champions League win in mid-week, 3-1 over Sporting Lisbon, pleased Jose Mourinho and the Portuguese admitted he was pleased to see both City and Arsenal progress to the next stage, because it will help Chelsea's league chances.
"I am happy Man City and Arsenal went through because I work in England and I care about the prestige of English football," he said. "We have also Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in the Europa League so I wish them well too.
"At the same time it is good for us if direct opponents in the Premier League are involved in European competitions. Man United are not, they have the same advantage Liverpool had last year in the Premier League and it is a big advantage."
Third-placed United take on a stuttering Liverpool side, who went out of the Champions League in mid-week, at Old Trafford hoping to make it five wins in a row and stay in touch with the top two.
United were humbled 3-0 at home by a then-rampant Liverpool last season but striker Robin van Persie is warning that he and United are hitting top form.
"I've been feeling very well over the last couple of weeks," Van Persie said. "Physically, I can make my runs over and over again. I had a feeling that it was coming.
"I can play 90 minutes easy and every time it gets easier. I could keep going in the last minutes and that's what you want.
"Then the goals, assists, wins will come. I just have to keep it going and play more.
"The next game is Liverpool, so we're looking forward to that. We are really happy that we are on the way up now. We have to keep the momentum going."
Arsenal will be out to close the gap on the two teams immediately above them - West Ham and Southampton - by beating Newcastle at the Emirates.
At the other end of the table, second-bottom Burnley host Southampton while Queens Park Rangers will be hoping to stay above the relegation zone by getting a result at Everton on Monday night.
West Ham take on Sunderland, Crystal Palace host Stoke, Aston Villa make the short journey to West Brom and Swansea welcome Tottenham in the weekend's other matches.
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