What Man City did last month has proved crucial as Pep Guardiola makes title race prediction

Manchester City are two points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table heading into the final few months of the season.

Plenty of the Premier League title race twists and turns have yet to be written but it might be something Manchester City did in January that proves pivotal should Pep Guardiola's Blues get their hands on the title come May.

City cut the gap to Arsenal at the top of the table to two points with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday night as they continue to chase down the Gunners. Both sides now have 11 games to play ahead of Arsenal's North London Derby with Tottenham on Sunday.

Guardiola was pleased with his side's showing against Eddie Howe's men and will now give his side three days off ahead of the Premier League trip to Leeds United on Saturday teatime as the Blues seek to benefit from a break in the midweek schedule.

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City beat Galatasaray in late January to secure an eighth-place finish in the Champions League League Phase table to secure a straight path to the last-16 and avoid the play-off round, the second leg of which takes place this midweek. That gave City two blank midweeks, with Guardiola keen to get rest into a squad that is still competing on four fronts.

And while the City chief perhaps doesn't see this vintage capable of reeling off victory after victory as some of his past sides have done, he believes the benefits of this fortnight without midweek matches could prove crucial.

"I have the feeling we are not going to win all the games," he said after the victory over Newcastle. "Come FA Cup, Champions League, travels, the final of the Carabao Cup. Many, many games, injuries are going to come.

"Many things are going to happen. The best way is to relax now and focus on Leeds. We will see, it depends on our level and how we play."

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