In an exciting competition for the Premier League title involving three teams, Manchester City faces a tough match this weekend, which all three contenders believe is an unnecessary challenge. With City, Liverpool, and Arsenal closely positioned with only three points separating them and eight games left in the season, there is not much room for mistakes in the remaining matches. All three teams still have hopes of success in Europe, while City are still in the FA Cup as they aim to repeat last season’s incredible treble. The upcoming match against Crystal Palace on Saturday will be a test for City, as they and other managers like Guardiola, Klopp and Arteta feel that the 12.30pm kickoff time is a major obstacle, especially after midweek games. Check out the latest injury updates for Man City ahead of the Crystal Palace match. Guardiola criticizes Man City’s schedule as unfair. City will have to deal with a quick turnaround after playing a late game on Wednesday, while Liverpool will have a similar situation later in the month. The Gunners may also have an early kick-off after a busy schedule with a Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. New rules implemented in May prohibit any team from playing at 12.30pm on a Saturday following a Champions League match. However, this rule does not apply to consecutive league games, as City will face this weekend. The 12.30pm time slot, typically utilized for broadcasts on TNT Sports and prime viewing times for audiences in Asia, has been a source of frustration for Liverpool manager Klopp. Guardiola also expressed annoyance last week over City’s schedule, stating that after competing in Madrid, they will now face Crystal Palace. He expressed skepticism about the players being fresh after just three days off, noting that he knows their performance improves when they have two or three days off. How do you get Aston Villa ready? Three days of rest, then lineup and play.
