Who: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Content: English Premier League
Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Date and time: Wednesday, May 13th, 8pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll bring you all the details on Al Jazeera Sports from 16:00 GMT, ahead of our live text commentary stream.
Second-placed Manchester City looked to stay alive in the Premier League title race with a home win over Brentford on Saturday, but league leaders Arsenal’s controversial win against West Ham United the following day once again left City on the back foot in the battle for the trophy.
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Al Jazeera Sports previews City’s postponed Round 31 match against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, dashing the Sky Blues’ championship hopes as the season draws to a close.
What will happen in the Premier League title race?
As front-runners, Arsenal are well placed to win the title on the Premier League ladder. The Gunners maintain a five-point lead over Man City with two games left in the 38-game season. City have three games remaining, including the home game against Palace.
What happens if City beat Palace?
If City beat Palace on Wednesday, they will close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to just two points. Both teams have two games left.
A win against Palace would keep City alive in the title race, but they need to beat Bournemouth in their penultimate game to stay in the title race until the final round on May 24th.
What happens if City draw or lose to Palace?
If City draw, they will be four points behind Arsenal, and if they lose, the difference will remain at five points. Dropping a single point against Palace would mean City are all but out of the title race, even if they still have a mathematical chance of fighting for the penultimate round.
In such a scenario, Arsenal could be crowned Premier League champions as early as Monday 18th May. A win against Burnley, who have already been relegated in Round 37, would give Arsenal at least a seven-point lead, meaning City could only pick up six points from their last two games.
If the Gunners are crowned English champions, it will end the north London club’s 22-year wait for the honour.
What will happen between City and Arsenal?
City host Palace on Wednesday, then face sixth-placed Bournemouth on May 19th, before facing fifth-placed Aston Villa in their final game of the season on May 24th. Both games will be difficult as City’s opponents fight to qualify for next season’s European football.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have a much easier run-in until the end of the season. They will host Burnley, who have already been relegated, on May 18, before playing away to Palace on the final day of the season. Palace are likely to name a weaker team in that match and will certainly turn their attention to the first European final, the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27th.
Will Arsenal lose the Premier League trophy?
yes.
Arsenal’s dramatic win against London rivals West Ham on Sunday means they already have the trophy in their hands. Regardless of Manchester City’s result, the champion will be crowned if they win the final two games of the season.
However, if they make even one mistake, they will allow their rivals competing for the title to take the lead.
Opta’s supercomputer gives the Gunners an 87.2% chance of winning the title in the future.
Can City and Arsenal finish the season with equal points?
Yes, it is possible.
If City win all three remaining games and Arsenal draw one of the two, both teams will end the season with points.
What happens in this case? Rule C.17 of the Premier League Handbook states that the final table position will be determined by the following criteria, in this order:
Goal difference Number of goals Points scored in direct matches Away goals scored in direct matches Play-off matches.
Currently, the goal difference between Arsenal and City is very close. Arsenal’s goal difference is +42, City’s +40. It could come down to goals scored over the course of the season. City currently have 72 points and Arsenal have 68.
If both clubs end up with the same points, goal difference, and goals conceded, City will win the title based on the next criteria (points earned in head-to-head matches), as they have four points with one win and one draw against Arsenal this season.
Such a scenario is highly unlikely given City’s laggards in the title race, but if it were to happen it would be the closest title race to date. The last time they were close was in the 2011-12 season, when Sergio Aguero scored the winning goal in stoppage time on the final day against Queens Park Rangers, with City defeating rivals Manchester United on goal difference.
City still looking to sign domestic doubles
Although City are highly unlikely to win the league title, they are well on their way to winning a domestic double. City, who won the League Cup in March, will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday. They are aiming to win the FA Cup for the eighth time, having last lifted the trophy in 2023.
Manager Josep Guardiola has backed striker Omar Marmouche, who scored off the bench in the last game, to play a key role in England’s final stages of the season.
“We have talked many times,” Guardiola said. “I know it will not be easy for them (fringe players) but I am sure they will play in the next game.
“I want to rotate the team because otherwise we won’t be able to reach the final or get to Bournemouth in any way (fresh).”
“Especially Omar. It’s not easy because usually you just want one striker. He’s a proper striker, but there’s Erling (Haaland) there.”
“Erling is very important for us, but Omar’s contribution – goals per minute played – is huge.”
“I like it very much” – Pep Guardiola, delighted with the title win
Guardiola says he “loves” the Premier League series despite no longer being in control of his own destiny in the title race.
“It’s not in our hands right now,” Guardiola said. “They have to drop points. The only thing we can do is win again and see what happens.”
Guardiola said that win or lose, the thrilling race to the finish line was a lot of fun.
He pointed to the team’s stability, as their undefeated streak in the league dates back to mid-January. With a major final still to be played, City have plenty of opportunities to celebrate this season regardless of how the Premier League ends.
Guardiola said: “I like it very much. I’m happy to be here again. I think we’ll finish at least second place this season.” “Last season we were fighting for Champions League qualification and it was very difficult.
“I love the Carabao (League Cup) too. We will play the FACup final at Wembley. It’s the most beautiful game of the season.”
What happened the last time City played Palace?
City won 2-0 in the comeback game at Selhurst Park in December thanks to two goals, including a penalty from Haaland and one from Phil Foden.
direct confrontation
Palace and City have played each other 75 times in all competitions since 1921.
City won 40 of those games, while Palace won 18. A total of 17 matches ended in draws.
man city team news
Defenders Josko Gvardiol and Abdukkodir Kusanov, as well as defensive midfielder Rodri, are out with injuries.
Man City expected lineup
Gianluigi Donnarumma (goalkeeper); Matheus Nunez, Mark Guehi, Nathan Ake, Nico O’Reilly. Bernardo Silva, Tijani Reynders. Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku. erling haaland
palace team news
Edward Nketiah, Sheikh Umar Doucoure, Evan Guessando and Borna Sosa are sidelined with injuries.
Palace’s expected line-up
Dean Henderson (goalkeeper); Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Jaydee Cambot. Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamata, Tyrick Mitchell. Brennan Johnson, Ismaila Saar. Jorgen Strand Larsen
