Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace result - Phil Foden gets two assists to keep Premier League title race alive

Phil Foden got two first-half assists as Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace to move within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola, with an eye on Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, made six changes, including resting Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki.

Initially, it looked to starve City of rhythm, and Palace nearly took the lead when Jean-Philippe Mateta’s shot crossed the line, but Brennan Johnson was offside in the build-up.

City failed to create chances of note as the Etihad crowd grew frustrated, coming closest when Rayan Ait-Nouri fired into the side-netting after a quick one-two.

However, a moment of magic half an hour in sent the hosts on their way. Foden played a blind backheel to open up the Palace defence, which Antoine Semenyo curled into the far corner.

The goal lifted the side, and Omar Marmoush doubled up eight minutes later after being found by another deft touch from Foden.

City might have been eager to go for the kill in the second half, knowing a superior goal difference could aid their title pursuit, but controlled the game for large parts of the second period without risking much.

Bernardo Silva nearly gifted Palace a way back into the match, but Ismaila Sarr shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma under pressure from Nathan Ake.

Savinho sealed the deal with 10 minutes left, coolly passing home after Cherki ran at a retreating Palace defence.

City close the gap to two points with two matches remaining, but now have a superior goal-difference advantage, so are ready to punish any slip-ups from Arsenal.

The Gunners face Burnley on Monday at the Emirates Stadium and can win the title if they win and City drop points at Bournemouth the day after.

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This means that Arsenal cannot win the title against Burnley on Monday. They could win it on the day after should they win at the Emirates and City fail to beat Bournemouth.

Any other permutations and the title race goes to the final day.

Arsenal's final two fixtures - against relegated Burnley and at Palace with an eye on a Conference League final - look as easy as they get on paper but, when you haven't won the Premier League in 22 years, nothing is easy.

City seem happy with three goals, but the three points are enough to keep the pressure on Arsenal at the top.

Rayan Cherki does some nice juggling but can't find a pass. Rayan Ait-Nouri then does the same to keep the ball alive.

Daichi Kamada wins a late corner for Palace. Gianluigi Donnarumma catches, before Jeremy Doku gets tackled on the counter.

There is the whistle! City close the gap to two points at the top of the Premier League table.

Savinho pulls up and goes down, looking in considerable pain. Abdukodir Khusanov runs over to treat him for cramp.

City are out of substitutions but Savinho looks okay to continue, albeit with a bit of a limp.

Will that change Arsenal's mentality next Monday then? Do they now try and beat Burnley by four or five to give them extra insurance if Palace end up taking a point off them on the final day?

A lot of this is moot if City don't beat Bournemouth next Tuesday though and Andoni Iraola's side are unbeaten in 16 matches, including a win over Arsenal in April.

Jorgen Strand-Larsen messes up a pass to Ismaila Sarr but he was offside anyway.

Five minutes added on.

That goal means City now have a better goal difference than Arsenal. Should the Gunners draw against Burnley and City beat Bournemouth by one goal, Arsenal will need to win by three more goals than City on the final day (or lose by three fewer).

TLDR: Arsenal better not drop any more points in their final two matches or they will be punished.

There is the icing on the cake and it is all thanks to more Rayan Cherki magic!

Cherki runs through Palaces half unchallenged before splitting two defenders with the pass.

Savinho gratefully picks it up and curls a finish into the far corner beyond Dean Henderson.

Mateo Kovacic is immediately in on the action, trying to slide the ball to Antoine Semenyo, but Chris Richards comes sliding across to intercept.

Donnarumma then gives the ball away to Daichi Kamada who goes down under challenge from Phil Foden in the area!

Stuart Attwell blows the whistle! But gives a free-kick the other way and brandishes a yellow at Kamada for diving.

The contact was minimal, if any. Good to see that getting called out.

Nathaniel Clyne replaces Daniel Munoz, while John Stones replaces Phil Foden, who has had his best match in some time today.

Savinho draws a couple yellow shirts out of position and finds Antoine Semenyo with a good pass.

It's three on three, but Semenyo's pass is poor and doesn't have enough mustard on it to reach Jeremy Doku.

Here are the City changes, as Omar Marmoush and Bernardo Silva depart for Rayan Cherki and Mateo Kovacic. Warm applause for both.

Erling Haaland remains on the bench, but gives a grin and a hug to Marmoush as he sits down.

Palace win a corner, but it is too easy for Gianluigi Donnarumma to catch.

Palace make another change, as Brennan Johnson comes off for Daichi Kamada, who is out of contract this summer.

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic and Rayan Cherki are stripped and ready to come on.

City haven't fully gone for the goal difference here, despite making fairly attacking substitutions. Erling Haaland is still yet to enter the fray.

Jeremy Doku tries to find Antoine Semenyo with a clever cross but Maxence Lacroix heads clear.

A loose pass from Bernardo Silva sets Ismaila Sarr through on goal but, under pressure from Nathan Ake, he can only scuff a weak shot at Gianluigi Donnarumma.

That was a timely reminder from City that they need to keep their focus here and see this one out.

Phil Foden is central of another dangerous City attack as they pass the ball through the box, but arguably overplay it as Omar Marmoush sees his shot get charged down.

Oliver Glasner makes his first subs too. Yeremy Pino, Will Hughes and Jean-Philippe Mateta come off for Ismaila Sarr, Jorgen Strand-Larsen and Adam Wharton.

Palace string together a promising attack, but City intercept it before the ball reaches Jefferson Lerma, who was gearing up to shoot on the edge of the box.

Another corner for City. But first, Jerermy Doku and Nathan Ake come on for Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol.

A very good hour of football for Gvardiol on his injury return. The pass in the build-up to the second goal was exquisite.

Josko Gvardiol has space to run into but can't thread the ball into Antoine Semenyo's path.

Savinho gets felled by Tyrick Mitchell but Stuart Attwell plays advantage. However, he does come back to book Mitchell.

Deserved. Reckless and late on Savinho's foot.

Matheus Nunes wins a corner to start the half. Phil Foden puts in an inswinging delivery, but Marc Guehi gets penalised for dragging Will Hughes to the ground.

Omar Marmoush then wins a corner on the left-hand side, which Rayan Ait-Nouri crosses towards Antoine Semenyo, but it's headed clear.

Phil Foden and Manchester City get the match back running.

So what do City do in the second half?

Do they settle for the three points, or do they go for the jugular?

A big win will help them out if Arsenal draw either of their two matches, as it would put City on course to finish level on points with the Gunners.