Pellegrini sets City target of 87 points to retain EPL title

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has set Manchester City a target of 87 points to retain their English Premier League (EPL) crown.

The defending champions trail Chelsea by three points going into the trip to West Bromwich but are on course to meet Pellegrini's mark as they approach the halfway point of the season, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Twice in the past three years, City have won the title on the final day after finishing level with Manchester United on 89 points and edging out Liverpool with 86.

Pellegrini estimates that this year's winning total will be somewhere between the two.

"You must win around 86 or 87 points. You have to play for 57 points in the second half of the season and there are still six points in this half, so that's 63 points,' he said Thursday.

"With big teams it's always important to win titles but we are not thinking about what we did last season, or what happened with Chelsea. You must always forget whatever we did in the past and try to have your mind in the present because every season is different."