Agüero shows his enduring class even as Guardiola finds new ways to win | Paul Doyle


Manchester City’s manager has stimulated a team that looked broken – and did so again against Crystal Palace

Several stories unfolded at once at Selhurst Park, even when it looked like nothing was afoot. Manchester City started sluggishly and did not manage a shot on target in the first half yet they emerged as comprehensive winners, a fact that sums up this season’s title race.

That they could dispose of mid-table opponents with something close to a shadow side, assembled at an average cost of more than £42m per player, says plenty about the depth of City’s squad and pockets. Their third title in four seasons will be confirmed if Liverpool help them by beating Manchester United on Sunday, and that, too, tells a tale.

Related: Make no mistake, Pep Guardiola’s football is a celebration of individuality | Philipp Lahm

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