MANCHESTER, U.K. — With two matches left in one of the most tightly contested Premier League title races in recent memory, Manchester City’s rotated squad delivered a comfortable 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, pulling the defending contenders to just two points behind league-leading Arsenal. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola opted to shake up his starting lineup, making six adjustments from the side that secured a 3-0 win over Brentford over the weekend. Star forwards Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku were held in reserve for the Etihad Stadium clash, while Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner also made several changes to his own starting eleven.
Goals in the first half from Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush put Manchester City in full control of the match under damp Manchester conditions, with a late third goal from Savinho putting the final polish on an impressive team performance.
The title momentum had swung firmly in Manchester City’s direction over the preceding weeks, until a costly 3-3 draw at Everton last weekend handed the upper hand back to Arsenal. Just two days before City’s clash with Palace, Arsenal fans held their breath as a late stoppage-time equalizer from West Ham United was disallowed following a VAR review, allowing the Gunners to hold on for a critical 1-0 win that preserved their lead at the top of the table.
City broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 32nd minute. Phil Foden crafted the opening with a perfectly weighted backheel pass that put Semenyo clear on goal, and the winger finished calmly past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson into the far corner of the net. Eight minutes later, Foden picked up an assist once again, playing a simple touch into the path of Marmoush, who slotted home his third Premier League goal of the campaign to double City’s lead.
Towards the end of a low-key second half, fan-favorite defender John Stones — who will leave the club at the end of the current season — entered the match as a substitute to a warm standing ovation from the home crowd. Minutes after Stones’ introduction, Rayan Cherki dribbled the ball from his own half to create a third goalscoring chance, setting up Savinho who curled a finish past Henderson to put City three goals up.
The three points move City up to 77 points, two points behind first-place Arsenal with two games remaining. Crucially, City hold a one-goal advantage in overall goal difference over the Gunners, and have scored seven more goals across the season, giving them a key tiebreaker if the two sides finish level on points.
Up next for City is a FA Cup final clash with Chelsea at Wembley Stadium this Saturday, where the club will be chasing a domestic cup double having already lifted the League Cup trophy earlier in the campaign. Speaking before Wednesday’s kickoff, Guardiola defended his decision to rotate his squad, noting that the congested end-of-season schedule requires every member of the first-team squad to contribute. “When the schedule is so tight, everybody is fit, everybody needs to help,” Guardiola said.
Despite the narrowed gap, Arsenal remains the clear favorite to claim its first Premier League title since 2004, under manager Mikel Arteta. If Arsenal gets three points against already relegated Burnley next Monday, City will be forced to take all three points against Champions League-chasing Bournemouth the following day just to keep the title race alive heading into the final day. On May 24, the final matchday of the season, Arsenal travels to face Crystal Palace, while City — currently on a 14-match unbeaten run in the league — hosts Aston Villa at the Etihad.
Foden, who was integral to Wednesday’s win with two assists, emphasized that the title race is far from over. “It’s a team game at the end of the day. If you want to win titles and trophies it’s about a full squad and everyone playing their part,” Foden told Sky Sports after the match. “The aim is to keep pushing and keep them on their toes. We’ve seen a lot of things can happen on the final day. I’ve experienced many times when the game doesn’t go your way. We just have to keep pushing and doing our part.”
For Crystal Palace, all attention is now turning to their upcoming UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on May 27. The match will mark Glasner’s final game in charge of the south London club, as he prepares to step down at the end of the campaign.