LONDON -- Manchester City took charge of the Premier League title race as Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure scored first-half goals to secure a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. A couple of hours after leader Liverpool lost 2-0 against Chelsea at home, City cut its deficit to the Reds to three points with one game in hand. If they win their three remaining matches and keep their superior goal difference, Citys players would be crowned champions. "It was a happy day and it was very important for us," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "Before today we were depending on other teams. Now we continue as we were two weeks ago, depending only on what we do. But its not finished, we have to play three games more. We will see in the future who will be the best." City will play at Everton on Saturday and could knock Liverpool off its perch on goal difference before the Reds play at Palace the next Monday. "It was very important not to be thinking about the result of Chelsea vs. Liverpool," Pellegrini said. "We just needed to concentrate on ourselves, and the players did it in a very professional way, knowing that if we beat Crystal Palace we would have our future in our hands." Having recovered from a thigh problem, Toure made a spectacular return to competition in a stellar man of the match display, setting up Dzekos opener in the fourth minute with a precise cross that the striker headed home. The powerful midfielder then started and concluded a superb collective move two minutes before halftime with a curling effort. Toure has scored 19 league goals this season and his return is a massive boost to Citys ambitions. "To be honest, we were looking a little bit at the Liverpool vs. Chelsea game," Toure said. "It was a tricky game but we did well. We have just three games left and we want to focus on winning those." After Liverpools earlier slip-up, City players got off to the best possible start at Selhurst Park as the returning Toure crossed for Dzeko, who jumped between two defenders and headed past Julian Speroni from close range to open the scoring. Undeterred by the goal and having secured their topflight status last weekend, Palace put on an attacking display as Yannick Bolasie created danger on both flanks and Cameron Jerome caused havoc in Citys central defence. Palaces first real chance came in the 18th minute when Jason Puncheon tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort was too weak for City keeper Joe Hart. Still, Pellegrinis team looked in control and City captain Vincent Kompany had a superb chance to double the title contenders lead a few minutes later but his powerful header from close range from Samir Nasris corner ended just wide. The game toughened up toward the end of the first half and referee Howard Webb had to show yellow cards to Damien Delaney and Pablo Zabaleta before Samir Nasri received treatment following a contact with Puncheon. Toure then turned from provider to scorer two minutes before the interval by finishing off a superb move he initiated on the halfway line. The Ivory Coast international played a one-two with Dzeko then passed the ball to Nasri, with the Frenchman putting it back into his path before Toure imposed his physical strength in the area and slotted home. Palace was on the front foot at the start of the second half, with Hart forced to a dive down to his right to deny Puncheons effort. But Tony Pulis players were too often wasteful with their final pass. Chamakh was among the culprits, ignoring Puncheon on his right before misfiring a long pass toward Bolasie. Jerome then wasted a superb pass from Chamakh in the back of the City defence as he took too much time after a heavy first touch. Toure was applauded by fans from both teams as he was replaced by Fernandinho after 65 minutes while Pulis tried to reinvigorate his team with the introduction of Glenn Murray and Dwight Gayle. The move did not pay off and City kept creating the best chances -- with Sergio Aguero and James Milner combining well down the right flank before Palace keeper Julian Speroni saved Dzekos deflected effort with his leg -- as Palaces record-equaling run of five consecutive Premier League wins was brought to an abrupt end. "I dont think the players played at their maximum today," Pulis said. "And the Chelsea result before the game gave City a massive boost. The players should not worry about that too much." Cheap Pirates Jerseys . The San Angelo, Texas product, who was a high school and college quarterback sensation in the Lone Star State, will start his first CFL game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-4) on Friday at Mosaic Stadium against the leagues top team, the Calgary Stampeders (11-2). Fake Pirates Jerseys . The Mariners ace allowed just one hit over eight innings while striking out nine, and Robinson Cano backed him with a two-run homer as Seattle earned a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/. In this weeks Leaf Report podcast, James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel debate whether Toronto can continue their shootout dominance and discuss what Dave Nonis game plan should be heading into the trade deadline. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . Rookie Christian Vazquez got his first three major league hits and drove in three runs, while David Ortiz had three RBIs to break open the game in the sixth inning and lead Boston over the Houston Astros 8-3. Pirates Jerseys China . The trade deadline is Monday, Mar. 2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. TRADES COMPLETED SINCE OCT. 1, 2014: Feb. 15, 2015 Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: F Olli Jokinen, F Brendan Leipsic, 1st Round Pick (2015) Nashville Predators acquire: D Cody Franson, F Mike Santorelli Feb.MADRID - Accustomed to seeing some of the worlds top players join their ranks, tens of thousands of Real Madrid fans turned out at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Monday to catch the first glimpse of Gareth Bale, the latest "galactico" to join the Spanish giants. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder was introduced by president Florentino Perez amid enthusiastic chants from the supporters after earlier passing a medical test. "It is a great dream for me to play for Real Madrid," Bale said in Spanish before thanking the fans for a "great welcome." "I want to help to bring the team success," Bale said before ending his speech with "Hala Madrid," the same club chant that David Beckham used at his presentation 10 years ago. A person familiar with the deal said on Sunday that the fee for the Wales international was a world-record $132 million, making the midfielder the worlds most expensive transfer. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial details are not being disclosed. By pairing Bale alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, new Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will have one of the most formidable attacking combinations in football and one intended to compete with that of Spanish champion Barcelona, which features Lionel Messi and new signing Neymar. Bale, whose move was the culmination of negotiations that spanned much of the summer, acknowledged his signing had involved a complex process that had made him feel uneasy at times. "Its been difficult, but Im here now," he said. "Its been a very nervous situation, but its a dream come true." Bale said that the deal had been done correctly, with Real Madrid approaching Tottenham first, before talking to him. He said he wasnt told until late Sunday that an agreement had finally been reached — shortly before it was announced to the rest of the world. Standing in front of a large photograph of Bale when he was a little boy, wearing a Madrid shirt, Perez praised the Welsh players skill. "We are before an exceptional footballer," said Perez, pointing out that Bale had been chosen as the best player in the Premier League last season. "He is a young player with very great qualities." Perez said the player had shown "determination and solidity" throughout the negotiations, sometthing he said had helped in completing the transfer process successfully.dddddddddddd "I thank Tottenham for giving us the opportunity to count on this player," Perez said. Bale acknowledged the transfer fee had been surprisingly large, but said that aspect of the deal was strictly between Tottenham and Madrid and had not included him at any stage. "I would have come here for a penny," he said. "I just wanted to be here and in a white shirt." Despite staying away from Tottenham during the final days of negotiations, the player said he had been working on his fitness and was hoping to play for Wales in its two upcoming World Cup qualifiers. He will travel to Skopje to play Macedonia on Friday, followed by a match in Cardiff against Serbia four days later. Bale insisted that the hefty price tag didnt put any added pressure on him, but added that he already expects a lot from himself and looks forward to pitting his skills against the competition in the league. "Ive always followed Spanish football, its an amazing league. I had the (Madrid) shirt when I was nine years old," he said. He said he had already spoken briefly with Ancelotti and was not concerned about where the coach chooses to play him. "I enjoy being in all the positions Ive played in so far, and I dont know if Ive got a favourite position anymore," he said. "Ill be happy to play wherever he places me." Bale, perhaps mindful that his arrival has the potential to unsettle Reals established superstar, said Ronaldo was the best player in the world and that his desire to play alongside the Portuguese international had been "a massive factor" in wanting to join Madrid. "I want to learn off him," Bale said. With Madrid, Bale will also be playing in the Champions League again — a competition that Tottenham only reached once during his stint there. He will be wearing the same No. 11 shirt that was worn by Francisco "Paco" Gento, who helped Madrid win six European Cups in the 1950s and 60s. Bale said one of his favourite memories of Madrid was Zinedine Zidane scoring the winning goal in its 2-1 Champions League final win against Bayern Leverkusen in 2002. "Tottenham wasnt easy to leave," he said, but "my heart was always set on Real Madrid." ' ' '