Three first-half goals helped Manchester City see off Aston Villa on Sunday,
City now will go top of the table if they beat leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday,.
City's players made the perfect start when Rodri headed home Riyad Mahrez's corner, but they had to wait until just before the break to add to their lead.
Calum Chambers' attempt to cut out a Kevin de Bruyne through-ball saw him head the ball beyond his on-rushing keeper Emi Martinez and, although Erling Haaland could not convert from a tight angle, he had the composure to look up and find Ilkay Gundogan for a tap-in.
Mahrez made it 3-0 from the penalty spot soon afterwards, after Jacob Ramsey had clipped Jack Grealish inside the box.
That should have been the end of Villa's hopes, but they were gifted a way back into the game just after the hour mark.
Bernardo Silva's error allowed Ollie Watkins space to run through and he beat Ederson with a cool finish.
City still had the cushion of a two-goal lead but continued to be sloppy when they played out from the back and were grateful to see a long-range effort from Philippe Coutinho deflected just over, while Jhon Duran hit the bar with a fierce volley in the dying seconds.
City boss Pep Guardiola later said: "We played a really good game, unfortunately the best moments were in the second half, we played better than the first half and we had the feeling that we were going to score more, we concede the goal and after 3-1 in the Premier League is always open but we make a very good game.
"We pressed better in the second half, we adjusted something, we controlled the ball better. Our relationship with the players was much better so we played better but unfortunately we conceded the goal, another mistake and after with 3-1 everything can happen but we played a really good game."
On Erling Haaland being withdrawn, he added: "Haaland had a knock, he was uncomfortable. At 3-0 we don't want to take risks. We'll see and assess in the next days. If he is not ready, we play another one. Hopefully he's ready but we will see.
"We are not a team that is incredible in transition, we play in control but our build up has to be a little bit quicker. But in general the game was really really good."