Manchester City’s title hopes are hanging by a thread, and they’ll need more than just their own brilliance to keep the dream alive. After a dramatic Sunday that saw Arsenal snatch a late winner against West Ham, Pep Guardiola’s side now faces a simple yet daunting equation: win every remaining game and hope the Gunners slip up. The pressure is on, and it all starts Wednesday night at the Etihad (20:00 BST) against a Crystal Palace side that loves to play spoiler.

Guardiola, never one to shy away from a bit of theater, playfully signed off his pre-match press conference with a cheeky "come on you Irons" in support of West Ham. But Arsenal’s late strike meant that wish went unfulfilled, leaving City in the same position they’ve been in for weeks—keep winning and wait for a miracle. Their home form, however, offers plenty of reassurance. The Blues are unbeaten in 16 league matches at the Etihad and have scored first in every single one of those games. Once they grab that early lead, they’re almost impossible to catch.

But here’s the twist: City’s recent matches have demanded more patience than usual. Despite leading the league in first-half goals this season (38), each of their last five goals has come after the break. Opponents are sitting deeper, packing the box, and forcing Guardiola’s men to work harder for every inch of space. The days of early knockouts are fading, replaced by grinding, late-game battles.

Enter Jeremy Doku. The Belgian winger has been a breath of fresh air, racking up seven goal involvements in his last six matches across all competitions. His direct, fearless running unsettles even the most disciplined defenses. It was his spark that unlocked a stubborn Brentford side last time out, setting the stage for a 3-0 rout. Doku gives City a different weapon—a way to slice through tight games when the usual passing patterns stall.

But just a week earlier, the draw with Everton raised eyebrows. City led 1-0, fell 3-1 behind, and needed a stoppage-time equalizer from Doku to salvage a point. Was it two points dropped or one gained? The answer will become clearer in the coming weeks. For now, the focus is simple: beat Palace and keep the pressure on Arsenal.

Crystal Palace, though, won’t be pushovers. Only Arsenal and City have more away wins than the Eagles’ seven this season, and they’ve made a habit of causing trouble at the Etihad. In fact, Palace have scored twice in each of their last two visits to Manchester. With the title race on a knife’s edge, Roy Hodgson’s side has every reason to believe they can play a decisive role in where the trophy ends up.