Premier League Saturday preview: City on verge of title glory

After conquering Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Manchester City face Crystal Palace knowing victory will edge them ever closer to reclaiming the Premier League title.

Elsewhere, Brighton host Leeds, Chelsea and Fulham clash in a London derby to savour and Everton meet Aston Villa.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (12.30pm, BT Sport)

Three points at Crystal Palace could be enough for City to secure the Premier League title — but they will need current holders Liverpool to beat Manchester United on Sunday if they are to celebrate this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side are 10 points clear of United with five games left to play. And with 13 victories from their past 17 meetings against Palace, that gap looks likely to be 13 by the time they leave Selhurst Park.

The Spaniard may be tempted to rest players ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with PSG on Tuesday.

But this could be the perfect stage for Raheem Sterling to find his form again — the England ace has six goals in his past seven starts against the Eagles.

Although Palace have lost back-to-back league games for the sixth time this season, they are yet to lose three in a row and beating City would take them past the 40-point mark.

Gary Cahill (unknown) may return for Palace but John Stones (suspended) is unavailable for City.

Brighton vs Leeds (3pm, Amazon Prime)

Defeat at Sheffield United last weekend means Brighton are still short of confirming their place in the Premier League next season.

The Seagulls have a seven-point cushion to Fulham in 18th and an eighth victory in nine games against Leeds would allow Graham Potter to start planning for next term knowing his side will be in the top flight barring a disaster. 

And it may be the game that Neal Maupay, who has four goals in five games against the Whites, finally finds his scoring boots after spurning two glorious opportunities at Bramall Lane. 

Leeds head to the South Coast having won three and drawn three of their past six games, giving them their longest unbeaten run of the season and a genuine chance of a top-half finish.

Ben White returns from suspension to face his former side and Percy Tau (hamstring) should be fit for the Seagulls, but Liam Cooper (suspension) is not available for Leeds.

Chelsea vs Fulham (5.30pm, Sky Sports)

Thomas Tuchel will have to decide whether to rest players ahead of the second leg of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid when they host Fulham.

After a 1-1 draw in Madrid, the Blues head back to West London knowing three points are a must if they are to keep West Ham, Liverpool and Tottenham at bay in the race for fourth.

Given it is 42 years since the Cottagers won at Stamford Bridge and 15 since their last league victory there, Tuchel will be tempted to make sure the likes of N'Golo Kante are fighting fit for the huge European tie.

Not that Scott Parker’s side will be pushovers. Despite recent poor form, they still harbour hopes of staying in the division and need victories as they try to close the seven-point gap to Brighton.

Mateo Kovacic (thigh) is a doubt for Chelsea but and Kenny Tete (coronavirus) could feature for the visitors.

Everton vs Aston Villa (8pm, BT Sport)

In a bizarre set of circumstances, Everton and Aston Villa clash for the first time this season — despite the end of the campaign being just weeks away.

It marks the latest first meeting between two clubs in Premier League history and the Toffees need to get the better of their visitors if they are to stop the season petering out in the same way as Villa's has done.

A 1-0 victory at Arsenal kept them six points outside of the Champions League places and they can ill-afford to drop points at Goodison Park.

Villa have only won once since the start of March and are in danger of missing out on a spot in the top half — something that looked a certainty at Christmas.

Matty Cash (suspension) is available for Villa, while Everton are waiting on the fitness of Michael Keane (hamstring) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (ankle).