Key events
The state of play at the top of the Premier League table, as if you need reminding. This feels like last-chance saloon for City, win or bust.
Here’s what Pep Guardiola had to say before tonight’s match.
We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn’t do their jobs they should do, even the VAR. When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR.
I never trust anything since I arrived [at City] a long time ago. Always I learned you have do it better – be in a position to do it better because [if not] you blame yourself with what you have to do, because [VAR] is a flip of a coin. You have to do better and better for yourself, and that is focusing on Crystal Palace for us.”
This isn’t the only crucial match to help decide a British title race tonight. It’s an absolutely gargantuan evening in Scotland: if Hearts beat Falkirk and Celtic lose to Motherwell, the Edinburgh side will be crowned champions for the first time since 1960.
Preamble
Manchester City should win this. Should. By the time that Arsenal play Burnley on Monday, Manchester City should be just two points behind the Gunners with two games to play. Should.
Of course, things are rarely as simple as should. It wasn’t too long ago that Palace were Manchester City’s bogey team – literally any excuse to wheel out the Andros Townsend volley from 2019, a Puskas Award nominee – and Guardiola will remember last year’s FA Cup final all too well.
The smart money says that Palace’s heroics won’t be repeated here. Palace have nothing to play for in the Premier League, other than keeping form and fitness for the Conference League final later this month. That European final comes just three days after their final match of the season, against Arsenal no less, and there is plenty of scrutiny on Oliver Glasner’s team selection both in that game and this evening against City. Will Palace’s manager rest his best? Will those that play perform with the same drive and verve as is normally expected? Glasner has hinted at squad rotation: “I’m responsible for Crystal Palace and I get paid for doing the best things for Crystal Palace and not for City and not for Arsenal.”
Motivation for City, of course, is not a problem. They have everything to play for domestically, both in the Premier League and this Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, and (that fateful 3-3 draw at Everton aside) are on a relentless run of form. Everything points to a City win and that’s exactly why we are here, in case it’s not.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.