MANCHESTER CITY will be crowned Premier League champions if Man Utd lose at home to Liverpool tomorrow.
Pep Guardiola’s men blitzed Crystal Palace with two goals in two minutes at Selhurst Park.
Sergio Aguero struck first before Ferran Torres added a second as Pep Guardiola’s men look for a first ever Premier League, League Cup and Champions League treble.
THAT’S ALL FROM SELHURST PARK
Two goals scored, zero conceded and Aguero back to doing what he does best, it was a perfect day for the Cityzens but it didn’t start off that way.
The first half was quite boring in truth. Crystal Palace had a few half chances and Man City controlled all the possession but both teams lacked quality in the final third.
Gabriel Jesus’ disallowed goal for offside was about the only exciting thing in the first 45 and even that was decided quickly.
However, I would have loved to of been a fly on the wall in Man City’s dressing room because they came out after the interval a completely different team.
They were pulling off dangerous attacks and letting shots fly, the Manchester City we are used.
Then out of nowhere, Sergio Aguero pops up with his first goal since March. It was an excellent strike by the way, vintage Aguero style.
And then 84 seconds later, Ferran Torres got in on the act when he side footed the ball past Vicente Guaita in-between the Palace sticks.
That was Manchester City’s 700th goal under Pep Guardiola.
Incredible.
After that, the visitors took complete control of the game, leaving Palace with no chance of making a comeback.
Football is crazy because Roy Hodgson’s men were in the game for 57 minutes, and then out of it by the 59th.
Thanks for tuning in people and I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
MATCH REPORT
In what looked to be a tricky test for Manchester City, turned out to be a customary win for Sky Blues.
To read up on all the juicy bits from the game, including how Aguero lit Selhurst Park up with a screamer.
CLICK HERE FOR THE MATCH REPORT
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Crystal Palace will have the chance to immediately bounce back because next up for the Eagles is a trip to already relegated Sheffield United before a tough game at home against Aston Villa and their final London derby of the season, Arsenal.
As for Manchester City, they have the rematch against Chelsea coming up in the Premier League which could potentially be a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final if us football fans in England get our way.
It could also be the Premier League title decider should Manchester United beat Liverpool tomorrow at Old Trafford.
But before that, Pep Guardiola’s side have to navigate their way through the all-important second leg of their Champions League Semi-Final against PSG.
CURRENT STANDINGS
So Manchester City have done their part and now it’s all eyes on Old Trafford tomorrow because if Liverpool beat Man United, the title goes back to the Etihad.
As for Crystal Palace, they miss out on the chance to go joint 12th with Wolves.
ROY’S REVIEW
Roy Hodgson was praising what a good side Manchester City are as well discussing why Wilfried Zaha had the hump today.
When Hodgson was asked if the defeat hurt him, he started off by saying: “Well it does but unfortunately, you’re playing against a team with so much technical ability that’s the problem.
“You have got to work so very, very hard to keep them at bay and the first goal really is not because we have defended really, really badly, it’s just a fantastic pass, control and shot.
“Suddenly you’re looking at a 1-0 to Man City and you know you’re going to have to work completely harder to score a goal or two goals.
“He was complaining a little bit towards the medical staff about his groin. He thinks he might of damaged his groin a little bit.”
The Palace gaffer added: “We kept on trying to get him to commit, but he kept saying he was ok, but one couldn’t be 100% sure how ok he was.
“But on the other, what other yard stick have we got to measure by.
“I don’t think he was as tonic as I have seen him on other occasions, it could be that the groin was bothering him, but he wouldn’t entertain the fact that it was a problem so we persisted.”
SENSATIONAL SERGIO
Sergio Aguero’s strike today puts him only five goals away from Andy Cole in 3rd on the Premier League’s all-time top goal scorers list.
However, with the Argentine set to leave City this summer, it limits his opportunities on reaching the top 3.
But with 4 games remaining, I wouldn’t rule him out just yet.
AGUERO’S ANALYSIS
Manchester City’s all-tme top goal scorer, Sergio Aguero scored the opening goal today and he was happy to discuss it in his press conference along with winning the title and the possibility of club building a statue of himself.
Aguero said: “Finally I could play. I am so happy because sometimes I don’t play 90 minutes so the goal is good because maybe we can win the Premier League, I’ll wait tomorrow.
“Mendy always tried to pass to me but this is the only one inside the box, I need one touch, little touch and it’s my show.
“Every game is difficult but we wait until tomorrow but of course if Liverpool win, it’s better no?
“The club told me about that [a statue], I told them I don’t want nothing honestly, I prefer to wait until the end.
“I say I got three, four years to go. The only way is to play until the end and then if the club want to do something.. okay, thank you.”
FULL TIME STATS
Well that esculated quickly.
The visitors must of read my half time summary because they only had three shots on target.
But add 17 to that number and that gives you their overall total which is much less than they conjured up in the first 45.
LEAPING FOR JOY
That win for Manchester City has landed them even closer to securing the a 5th title in 10 years.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
YEP IT’S ALL OVER
ANOTHER CUSTOMARY WIN FOR MANCHESTER CITY
3 SHOTS ON TARGET, 2 GOALS
FT: PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
90+2. Manchester City are closing in on what could possibly be a title winning victory depending on what happens tomorrow between Liverpool and Manchester United.
3 MINUTES ADDITIONAL TIME!
PALACE 0-2 CITY
88. Wow, the corner fell to Gabriel Jesus at a tight angle but similar to Sterling’s effort earlier on, it went way over.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
87. City are really hunting the third.
Ferran Torres slipped in Aguero who drove into the penalty area before trying to beat the Palace keeper at his near-post.
But Guaita read the situation well and deflected it out for a corner.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
83. Sterling how have you missed?!
Another chance fell to England international and he did well to cut inside his man, working a yard of space.
But he should have done much better with the strike especially for someone of his ability.
GIVE RACISM A RED CARD
Never forget people, there’s no room for racism and let’s put a stop to online abuse once and for all!
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
81. Maybe Riyad Mahrez needs to give Sterling some pointers because that was dreaadful.
His effort went way over the bar, I still don’t think it’s come down.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
80. Free-kick to Manchester City in a dangerous position.
There’s no Mahrez or De Bruyne on the pitch to discuss who’s taking it so this is the chance for Sterling to replicate what he did earlier on in the season.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
73. OOOOFFF just over the bar!
Sterling played the ball into Ferran Torres who just back-heeled perfectly into the path for Cancelo teasing the full-back to hit it first time.
Which he decided to do but his effort went a little bit too high.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
71. Wilfried Zaha has been really quiet this game but he picked out Jeffrey Schlupp on the edge of the box.
And the attacker went for a first time shot but the effort was rather tamed and trickled into the hands of Ederson.
Roy Hodgson’s side are trying to fight back but they are finding it really difficult.
City’s two goals in 84 seconds has completely knocked the stuffing out of Palace.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
67. A roll of the dice from both managers.
Christian Benteke’s drought against City continues because he comes off for the man on loan from French team Mainz, Jean Phillipe Mateta.
And Fernandinho has been replaced by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
One man’s career is coming to an end at City, whilst the others is just getting started.
But the thing that Aguero and Torres have in common is two terrific strikes against Crystal Palace.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
62. MY GOODNESS OFF THE POST!
Manchester City are in the groove now, it’s all falling apart for Roy Hodgson.
Sterling struck the post after some good build up play, Man City style.
I thought they weren’t going to score this game but now I am thinking, how many will they score?
Just as I was Pep was preparing to send on the reinforcements, his side popped up with the goods as they always do.
Sergio Aguero controlled a cross from Benjamin Mendy before smashing the ball home with the outside of his boot to get his first goal at Selhurst Park.
And Ferran Torres reacted to a loose ball after some sloppy defending, before placing the ball past Vicente Guaita.
Two shots on target, two goals.
PALACE 0-2 MAN CITY
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
WHAT AM I SEEING HERE!
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE IT’S 2-0
FERRAN TORESS THIS TIME!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
