Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team were within touching distance of dethroning Liverpool as the new Premier League champions after Saturday's 2-0 win at Leicester City.
It moved them 17 points clear at the top.
Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus scored at King Power Stadium to lead City to their 23rd win of the season, with Guardiola's side now needing 11 points from their remaining seven games to secure their third title in four seasons.
"The champions are Liverpool, they have the crown - but we are close to taking it," Guardiola said.
"I love the Premier League more than any other competition. We are close, very close."
City's victory at Leicester meant Liverpool can no longer defend their title, with Juergen Klopp's side 25 points behind the runaway leaders with eight games to play.
City have won each of their last 15 away games in all competitions and are unbeaten in 18 away matches, last losing on the road against Tottenham Hotspur, who defeated them 2-0 in the English top-flight on Nov. 21.
"In lockdown without spectators - every game we were there. I will never forget this season," said Guardiola.
Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Madrid Open for the second consecutive year after withdrawing on Friday with a wrist injury, dealing another blow to the world number two's clay court preparations ahead of his French Open title defence.
Novak Djokovic is still working through the injury problems that forced him to miss recent tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo and said on Friday that he will not feature at next week's Madrid Open, one of the last stops before the French Open.
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has defended Jasprit Bumrah after the struggling pace spearhead went a fifth Indian Premier League match without a wicket in Thursday's seven-wicket defeat by Punjab Kings.
Iranian women's football players Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh thanked the Australian government on Friday for offering a "safe haven" and said they wished to resume their sporting careers after rebuilding their lives.
Ollie Watkins still has hope of making England's World Cup squad despite being dropped for last month's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, with the Aston Villa forward saying all he can do in the last few weeks of the season is score goals.
Dubai Police, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Interior, have arrested an Irish fugitive accused of involvement in an organised criminal group linked to international crimes in his home country.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met with His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, to discuss national priorities and the country’s continued development.