#5 Still work to do for both teams
Trending
This triumph puts City in pole position to finish third, which would give them automatic qualification for the group stage of the Champions League (the team who ends the campaign in fourth will have to negotiate a potentially tricky play-off). Their remaining games are against Leicester City at home, West Bromwich Albion at home and Watford away on the final day, so it would be a big surprise if they were to throw away their position of strength at this stage.
Nevertheless, Guardiola and his players must avoid complacency as they seek to achieve their minimum objective in the Catalan’s debut campaign in charge. Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are all still locked in the battle for the top four, and City may still require three wins from three to ensure they do not slip down to fifth or sixth.
Palace, meanwhile, have still not made it mathematically certain of their place in the top flight next term, although it would still take a huge turnaround for Allardyce’s side to fall through the trapdoor. Their meeting with Hull City at Selhurst Park next weekend could be pivotal: a win would guarantee survival, but a defeat could leave them looking nervously over their shoulders ahead of a trip to Old Trafford on the final weekend of the season.
