Man City wins 3-0 at Palace; Guardiola says he rested star forwards

Manchester City kept the Premier League title race alive on May 13 with a 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace, but Pep Guardiola said his team could only wait for Arsenal to slip. Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush scored from Phil Foden assists in the first half, and Savinho added a late third at the Etihad Stadium. (thestar.com.my) The result moved City to 77 points from 36 matches, two behind Arsenal's 79. Guardiola had rested several forwards before Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea, including Erling Haaland. ### Why did Guardiola rotate his attack? Pep Guardiola made six changes to his starting lineup before the Crystal Palace match, according to Reuters and match reports from Manchester City and other outlets. (mancity.com) Erling Haaland was among the players left out of the starting side as City balanced the league run-in with the FA Cup final three days later. Guardiola said after the game that City were staying alive in the race rather than controlling it. AFP, carried by Yahoo and other outlets, reported Guardiola saying his side were "there just in case" Arsenal dropped points. That framing matched the table: City won, but Arsenal still held a two-point edge with two league games left for each club. (thestar.com.my) ### Who decided the match against Palace? Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after a back-heel from Phil Foden, Reuters reported. Omar Marmoush made it 2-0 in the 40th after Foden again supplied the final touch in the move. Savinho scored the third in the 84th minute from a pass by Rayan Cherki. (thestar.com.my) Phil Foden was the main creative figure in a rotated side. Reuters said it was the first time in Foden's Premier League career that he had produced multiple assists in the first half of a match. Manchester City's official report said the team controlled the game from start to finish apart from occasional Palace attacks. (article.wn.com) ### What does the table look like after 36 games? The Premier League's official table showed Arsenal first on 79 points and Manchester City second on 77 after both clubs had played 36 matches. Arsenal had a goal difference of plus-42 and City plus-43, but Arsenal's two-point lead meant City no longer controlled the race. (thestar.com.my) Reuters reported that City would have been unable to extend the race had they failed to beat Palace. Instead, the win ensured Arsenal must still take points from their remaining fixtures to be certain of the title. ### What has to happen for City to win the league? (thestar.com.my) Arsenal's next league match is at home to Burnley on Monday, May 18, according to Arsenal and the Premier League. Arsenal then finish the season away to Crystal Palace on Sunday, May 24. Manchester City's remaining league fixtures were described by Reuters as part of a final-week sprint, with two matches left after the Palace win. (premierleague.com) Reuters said City needed Arsenal to drop points in one of those remaining games to reopen the title path. Guardiola did not claim more than that after the Palace result. (thestar.com.my) ### What comes next before the title race resumes? Manchester City play Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 16, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. BST, according to the FA and Manchester City. The match officials have already been appointed, with Darren England set to referee. (arsenal.com) Arsenal host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, May 18 at 8 p.m. BST, Arsenal and the Premier League said. City then head into the last week of the league season still two points back, needing help from elsewhere as well as wins of their own. (arsenal.com) (mancity.com) (thestar.com.my)