Man City must beat Baggies to cling on to fading title hopes

As Premier League leaders and odds-on favourites Liverpool (1/6) extended their unstoppable run to 11 games, Manchester City (11/2) host West Brom and desperately need a victory to have any hope of reclaiming the top-flight trophy.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men are nine points behind the Reds, but have two games in hand, and anything other than a win would all but drop them out of the title race.

City are big favourites at 2/9 for victory at the Etihad, and despite the absence of star midfielder Yaya Toure – who scored twice in the reverse fixture this season – they are expected to roll over the relegation-threatened Baggies (7/1 to go down).

With just one victory in their last four Premier League games, they are certainty not in title-winning form, but have beaten West Brom in their last four head-to-heads.

Pepe Mel will be hoping his side can emulate fellow strugglers Sunderland, who heroically saw off Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in their last fixture. The Baggies can be backed at 12/1 for a victory, or 6/1 for a more likely draw.

City can turn to big Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko for goals, as he has scored three times in his last three games against this opposition. He is odds-on at 8/11 to net again anytime, or 3/1 to bag a brace or more.

Season top-scorer for City Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, could be set for a start, after coming off the bench against Liverpool after a spell on the sidelines. Back the Argentine, who has 26 goals in 30 games in all competitions to net anytime odds-on at 1/2.

West Brom lies precariously just above the drop zone in 16th in the league, but have two games in hand on 18th-placed Cardiff City and are three points ahead. They are heavily odds-on to stay up at 1/14, but are far from safe yet.

The Baggies have failed to score in their last three trips to City, and the home side are 13/10 to win to nil again.