Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes alive on Wednesday evening, easing past Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with two games remaining.
Manager Pep Guardiola made six changes to his starting lineup, keeping key players including striker Erling Haaland and winger Jeremy Doku on the bench ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley. Phil Foden, who had started only three of City's previous thirteen league matches, was given a rare place in the eleven and proved decisive. His delicate back-heel in the 32nd minute released Antoine Semenyo, who finished coolly past goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Eight minutes later, Foden again played the key pass, this time finding Omar Marmoush, who turned and struck to double the lead. A late run and finish from Savinho, set up by Rayan Cherki, completed the comfortable victory. Crystal Palace, a south London club currently 15th in the table, offered little resistance — their attention is largely fixed on the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on 27 May, the last game of outgoing manager Oliver Glasner's tenure.
The result is significant but does not hand City control of the title race. Arsenal, who have led the division for much of the campaign, can clinch the championship as early as next Monday if they beat relegated Burnley. City would then need to defeat Bournemouth — a club chasing UEFA Champions League qualification — the following day to keep things alive. Should the title race reach the final day on 24 May, Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace while City host Aston Villa. City now sit on 77 points, one ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, though Arsenal have played one game fewer.
The race has swung back and forth in recent weeks. City's costly 3-3 draw at Everton last week handed Arsenal the initiative, while City watched helplessly on Sunday as a stoppage-time West Ham equaliser against Arsenal was ruled out by VAR, allowing the Gunners to hold on for a 1-0 win. Despite the narrow points gap, Arsenal — chasing their first top-flight title since 2004 — remain strong favourites. City, however, are on a 14-game unbeaten league run and Foden insisted the race is not over. "We just have to keep pushing and doing our part," he told Sky Sports. "We've seen a lot of things can happen on the final day."