By Andrew Discenza

The Title will be decided on goal difference should both Manchester sides win, with City claiming a massive eight-goal advantage.

Yaya Toure’s inspired brace was the difference as Manchester City stayed on championship course with a 2-0 win over Newcastle. Roberto Mancini’s 62nd minute substitution meant that the Ivorian midfielder would be pushed into an attacking role, and the move proved crucial as eight minutes later Toure struck a gorgeous curler into the bottom corner after a one-two with David Silva. The 28-year-old fired coolly past Tim Krul again with a minute to go, and now all City need is three points at home to QPR to secure their first title in 44 years.

All Sir Alex Ferguson can do now is hope. Manchester United made light work of Swansea thanks to a cheeky Paul Scholes back-heel and a precise finish by Ashley Young, but even if they beat Sunderland next week, they rely on the league leaders slipping up.

The race for Champions League Qualification is as tight as ever, as just two points separate Arsenal (3rd), Tottenham (4th), and Newcastle (5th).

The opportunity to finish third still rests in Arsenal’s hands despite a disappointing yet thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Norwich. Things looked good after 66 seconds, when Yossi Benayoun’s picturesque curler flew in, but Wojciech Szczesny brought the visitors back into the match with a dreadful error, spilling Wes Hoolahan’s tame effort into the net. Grant Holt’s deflected shot actually gave Norwich the lead, and when Laurent Koscielny got away with a heavy tug on Russell Martin’s shirt in the area, Gunners fans were relieved. Robin Van Persie came to the rescue as he’s done so many times this season, firing in a composed first-time volley and then stabbing home a fortunate goal to make it an astounding thirty league goals for the season and put his side back in pole position. But the game ended as dramatically as it started, with Steve Morison exposing a ragged Arsenal back line to equalize, and the referee missed a second clear penalty when Kyle Naughton shoved Van Persie from behind.

Tottenham failed to capitalize on Arsenal’s slip-up, only managing a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. The Villans confirmed their Premiership status as Spurs only managed four shots on target out of 22 attempts. Not helping Tottenham’s cause was Danny Rose, who was sent off on 50 minutes for a nasty challenge, planting his studs sickeningly into the calf of Alan Hutton.

The Final Relegation Spot is up for grabs as Bolton sit two points below Wigan and QPR.

Bolton were up 2-0 on 72 minutes, but blew their chance to escape the drop zone as West Brom came back to earn a draw. Martin Petrov squeaked his penalty past Adam Bogdan, and Billy Jones scored a comedy own-goal, but Chris Brunt fired Albion one back and in the 90th minute James Morrison popped up at the back post to tuck into the roof of the net having been played onside. A devastating result for Wanderers.

QPR enjoyed the opposite result, grabbing a late winner to move up to 16th place. They play Manchester City next week, so desperately needed the points to stave off relegation. It didn’t seem to be their day however, but Adel Taarabt’s corner was helped on by Anton Ferdinand, and the controversial substitute Djibril Cisse was there to bury at the far post.

Fulham and Sunderland didn’t have anything to play for, but served up a sumptuous 2-1 encounter at Craven Cottage. Clint Dempsey notched his 50th Premier League goal in style, belting a beautiful swerving free-kick that drifted inside the post. Phil Bardsley then joined in on the golazos, cracking a first-time effort that sang into the far corner. It may have taken a slight deflection, but Moussa Dembele’s strike was no less fun to watch as it arrowed into the top corner.