Phil Foden shines as Man City keep pressure on Arsenal with Crystal Palace win

Phil Foden shone as Manchester City moved back within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a comfortable 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush both struck from Foden passes in the first half before Savinho added a late third as City kept their slender title hopes alive at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

With both title challengers having two games remaining, City do still have a chance of securing a seventh league crown in nine years.

Yet after Pep Guardiola made six changes and, with the game played in a subdued atmosphere, there appeared an acceptance the odds were heavily against them and focus had shifted to the FA Cup final.

City were frenetic against Brentford on Saturday but Arsenal’s victory over West Ham on Sunday seemed to have changed the mood.

City arguably benefited on this occasion from facing a Palace side whose eyes may already be on the Conference League final. On this evidence, however, they can expect few favours when Eagles play Arsenal next.

There was an obvious positive in the performance of Foden, who was making his first Premier League start in more than two months.

After two seasons of struggles with form and fitness, there was ample evidence of why the club are prepared to offer him a new contract.

His selection however, while Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku were among the substitutes, indicated Guardiola was looking ahead to Saturday’s Wembley clash with Chelsea.

City were slow to get going and Palace thought they had scored in the second minute.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s shot looked to have crossed the line before Gianluigi Donnarumma clawed away but Brennan Johnson was ruled offside in the build-up.

Yeremy Pino also had an effort deflected