Milner wants 'faultless' City

London - Manchester City's chances of winning the Premier League title for the third time in four seasons will almost certainly end if they lose at Stoke City and Chelsea beat Everton on Wednesday.

The gap between the leaders and the champions widened to seven points on Saturday when Chelsea won 2-1 at Aston Villa and City drew at home with Hull City, needing a stoppage-time free kick from James Milner to grab a point from a 1-1 draw.

With 14 matches to play, Chelsea have 56 points and City 49, followed by Southampton on 45, Manchester United on 44 and Tottenham Hotspur on 43.

"We can't really afford too many more slip-ups if any."

"Chelsea have a big lead now, but we know, more than anyone, you have to keep going to the death and anything can happen," Milner told reporters.

"But I think we have got to be pretty much faultless between now and he end of the season to get close."

Stoke stunned City when they won 1-0 at the Etihad in August and although the last four league matches between the two at the Britannia have been drawn, City must win and hope Chelsea slip up to stay in the title hunt.

Selected fixtures:

Spurs are at Liverpool on Tuesday, Southampton host West Ham United and Manchester United face Burnley at Old Trafford on Wednesday.