Manchester City returned to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a vital victory over Crystal Palace.
Pep Guardiola’s side headed into Wednesday night’s game at the Etihad Stadium knowing anything less than a win would effectively kill off any potential title hopes.
After a slow and nervy start, City managed to break the deadlock through January signing Antoine Semenyo, who converted from a Phil Foden backheel.
Omar Marmoush then doubled the lead just minutes later following another pass from Foden, making it two goals in two matches for the Egyptian.
Match Report and Player Ratings: Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
The second half began similar to the first, with no goals after half an hour with Palace seemingly more concerned with stopping a third goal rather than scoring one of their own.
City did finally notch a third thanks to an excellent run and pass from substitute Rayan Cherki who released Savinho through on goal to wrap up the win.
Here are five things we learned from Manchester City’s midweek clash with Crystal Palace.
1. Your turn, Arsenal
And so we are back to how it was on Saturday night, with Manchester City trailing the league leaders by just the two points.
The clash with Crystal Palace has been the game-in-hand for Pep Guardiola’s side for several months and the boys in blue certainly made it pay when they finally got to play it.
It was vital that the home side picked up all three points on Wednesday night as anything but that would have seen any aspirations of being champions go up in smoke.
City performed well, crucially got the job done and kept the pressure on Arsenal, who next play an already-relegated Burnley side at home on Monday evening.
Who blinks first? Your guess is as good as mine on that one.
2. Foden turns master creator
It is truly wonderful to see Phil Foden back in the side and playing with that spark which has been missing for months.
After a disappointing outing last campaign and, despite some good form in the first half of this season, a fall off in recent months, some were doubting the midfielder’s place in the team.
Perhaps it was that one brainless person that suggested Foden join Coventry City on loan which sparked the England international back to life.
He looked good over the weekend in his short cameo versus Brentford but was very much back to his high standards against Palace, deservedly winning the MOTM award.
With three hugely important matches still to come, Foden couldn’t have picked a better time to reintroduce himself.
3. Goal difference
Much has been said about how the Premier League title race could come down to goal difference as it did for Manchester City 14 years ago this month.
Heading into the match, the Citizens trailed Arsenal by two in that regard but Pep Guardiola’s men saw to wiping that slate clean on Wednesday evening.
What City needed were some comfortable high-scoring wins and the team followed up the 3-0 against Brentford with yet another 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
The eight-time Premier League champions now lead the goal difference which could prove crucial should Arsenal falter in either of the side’s closing games.
A draw and a win for the league leaders with two wins for City would see the title come down to goal difference and the Palace win has only helped the Mancunian side in that regard.
4. Marmoush showing promise
It is not an easy job, playing second fiddle to the ultimate goal getter, Erling Haaland. Julian Alvarez found that out the hard way.
When Omar Marmoush signed for Manchester City in January of 2025, many touted him to go one better than the Argentinian and regularly challenge City’s number 9.
Despite the form for Frankfurt and grabbing some goals in the second half of last campaign, the Egyptian has rarely impressed in this current season.
However, like Phil Foden, Marmoush is showing signs in recent games that he is coming into form at the time City need depth most.
With important games in the Premier League title race and an FA Cup final on the horizon, the forward chipping in with goals is essential in reliving the pressure from Haaland.
5. Rest and refresh
One of the biggest wins in Manchester City’s victory was that so many players were given much-needed rests in a gruelling final straight of the campaign.
The likes of the high-performing Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly were all left out of the starting line-up by Pep Guardiola.
Those starting made sure that there was never any real urgency to call on the bench to rescue the day, thanks to some excellent playmaking by Phil Foden as mentioned earlier.
Doku did appear in the second half alongside other substitutes but thanks to the score being favourable, the work was not as strenuous as it could have been had the starting XI not performed.
This means that City can head into the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday with plenty of energy to try and claim a second trophy this season.
