JOIN USCity's title dreams take a hit
Manchester City's Premier League title hopes were dealt a crushing blow when they were held to a 2-2 draw by bottom club Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Everton suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by mid-table Crystal Palace at Goodison Park to put a huge dent in their bid for a top-four finish.
City, champions in 2012 and runners-up to neighbours Manchester United last season, failed to respond to their 3-2 defeat at leaders Liverpool on Sunday and stayed third in the table on 71 points from 33 matches, six behind Liverpool and four adrift of Chelsea with only one game in hand.
Liverpool are in pole position to claim their first English title in 24 years, but they still have to play Chelsea at Anfield on April 27.
Sunderland remained rooted to the bottom of the table with 26 points from 33 matches, six points adrift of 17th-placed Norwich City.
After the damaging defeat by Liverpool, City knew anything other than a win would seriously dent their title hopes and a slick passing move enabled Fernandinho to fire them ahead after two minutes.
But with talismanic midfielder Yaya Toure missing through injury, City lacked a cutting edge and Sunderland striker Connor Wickham was in the right place on 73 minutes to convert Emanuele Giaccherini's left-wing cross and score his first Premier League goal since 2011.
City have won just twice in their last eight games against Sunderland and Wickham put Poyet's side in front after 83 minutes when he beat Joe Hart at his near post.
But Sunderland's hopes of a shock victory were dashed when goalkeeper Vito Mannone spilled Nasri's shot into his own net two minutes from time.
Goals from Jason Puncheon and Scott Dann gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 lead at Goodison Park before substitute Steven Naismith pulled a goal back for Everton.
Cameron Jerome's strike restored Palace's two-goal advantage and Kevin Mirallas grabbed a late consolation for Roberto Martinez's side.
Everton's defeat, which followed a run of seven wins in a row, left them on 66 points from 34 matches, a point adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with four games remaining.
Victory for Tony Pulis's Palace continued their surge up the table and they are in 11th place with 40 points.