Man City vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest score, goal updates and fan reaction | OneFootball

Arsenal watch on closely as Pep Guardiola makes key changes for crunch clash in title race

It’s a crucial night in the Premier League title race as Manchester City make big changes to take on Crystal Palace, with Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all on the bench. Leaders Arsenal will be watching on with interest as their rivals contest their game in hand at the Etihad Stadium, looking to cut the gap at the top to two points with two games left to play. Pep Guardiola’s side must win this evening if they are to prevent the Gunners from potentially sealing their first championship for 22 years at home to relegated Burnley next week.

City are facing four games in 12 days during a hectic finish to the campaign as the Carabao Cup holders pursue a domestic treble, though clearly have one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup final showdown with Chelsea. Palace are looking to finish Oliver Glasner’s tenure as strongly as possible but also have their own significant distraction in the form of the upcoming Conference League final.

Though that clash with Rayo Vallecano is now their main focus, the Eagles could yet have a major say in the destination of the title as they also host Arsenal on the final day. Follow Man City vs Crystal Palace live below!

Live updates

1 minute ago

Man City fans shocked by scale of Guardiola changes

Social media is awash ahead of kick-off with FPL managers furious at both lineups, with Sarr’s benching for Palace also key on that front.

Plenty of City fans, meanwhile, appear stunned by the scale of Guardiola’s changes despite what he said pre-match and that looming FA Cup final.

Some see it as underestimating Palace despite Glasner’s own changes for a third game in six days and 57th of the season across all competitions, the most extreme seem to think he’s effectively waving the white flag to Arsenal in terms of the Premier League title race.

Worth noting that this City lineup is still worth hundreds of millions of pounds, mind...

7 minutes ago

Ait-Nouri to make rare start in Man City midfield?

Having said that, Khusanov and Guehi have established a fine partnership at centre-back and it would be potentially foolish for Guardiola to disrupt that.

Ait-Nouri has never played in midfield for Manchester City before and, according to Sky Sports, only ever did it once during four years at Wolves.

Could he or Gvardiol maybe do a stint at right-back if it’s actually Nunes in midfield, if Guardiola wants to partner Khusanov and Guehi again?

I’ll also be intrigued to see how it works going forward, with that front four all very interchangeable.

Trying to second-guess Pep’s selections is always a tough gig.

15 minutes ago

How will Man City line up?

Guardiola said there that everyone is fit, so it seems that there’s no new injury to O’Reilly despite his complete omission from the Manchester City squad this evening.

Safe to say that Pep is not a popular man with FPL managers tonight.

It will be interesting to see exactly how City line up, with a few different possibilities looking at the team sheet.

City have listed it as Ait-Nouri playing in midfield alongside captain Silva, with Gvardiol at left-back in a back four.

I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s actually Nunes in midfield with Khusanov at right-back, Ait-Nouri at left-back and Gvardiol at centre-back alongside ex-Crystal Palace captain Guehi.

We will wait and see.

21 minutes ago

Guardiola explains Man City changes

Pep Guardiola admits during his pre-match interview with Sky Sports that Manchester City have one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.

He also doesn’t appear to deny that Arsenal’s result over West Ham on Sunday may have helped influence his team selection for tonight.

He is thrilled to have Josko Gvardiol back.

32 minutes ago

Crystal Palace make four changes as Mateta starts

Crystal Palace show four changes of their own from Sunday’s lively home draw with Everton.

Jean-Philippe Mateta gets the nod up front ahead of Jorgen Strand Larsen after his late equaliser off the bench at Selhurst Park, with Ismaila Sarr replaced by Yeremy Pino.

The backline is unchanged, though there’s a different midfield partnership as Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada make way for Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes.

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39 minutes ago

Guardiola rings changes with Haaland, Cherki and Doku all on bench

So Pep Guardiola has indeed opted to rotate massively ahead of what is, on paper at least, the most winnable-looking of Manchester City’s four remaining matches this season.

As mentioned, Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku are all on the bench, with no Nico O’Reilly at all and Rodri still not risked.

Abdukodir Khusanov does return in defence, where there’s a surprise start for Josko Gvardiol on his first appearance since breaking his leg against Chelsea on January 4.

Ruben Dias is also back on the bench following his two months out with a thigh injury.

It’s six changes to the side that beat Brentford, with Khusanov, Gvardiol, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Phil Foden, Savinho and Omar Marmoush replacing Nathan Ake, O’Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, Cherki, Doku and Haaland.

No Nico Gonzalez in the squad either.

52 minutes ago

Crystal Palace lineup

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, Johnson, Pino, Mateta

Subs: Benitez, Sarr, Clyne, Kamada, Wharton, Strand Larsen, Riad, Devenny, Cardines

55 minutes ago

Man City lineup

It is right! And no Jeremy Doku starting, either. Wow. O’Reilly not even on the bench.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Bernardo, Foden, Semenyo, Savinho, Marmoush

Subs: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Haaland, Cherki, Doku

1 hour ago

Man City team news leak?

The official team news from the Etihad Stadium will drop in around 10 minutes’ time, but there are whispers on social media that none of Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki or Nico O’Reilly start for Manchester City tonight.

We wait and see if that’s accurate. Bold calls from Pep Guardiola if so!

1 hour ago

Guardiola has no concerns over Crystal Palace motivation against Arsenal

Pep Guardiola was also asked yesterday if he had any concerns about Crystal Palace facing Arsenal on the final day of the season in a game that comes just three days before the Conference League final.

“They're so professional, the team,” he said. “Crystal Palace will play top against us.

“We saw Leeds yesterday against Spurs, even being out of the relegation battle so they are in the Premier League again - how they compete.

“We played Aston Villa here in the past, nothing to play for and how difficult it was.

“I am sure they will do their best, knowing that they have the final [in] three days.”