Yaya Toure's peerless midfield play dragged Manchester City back into the Barclays Premier League title race in a controlled 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Fit-again Toure teed up Edin Dzeko's 24th goal of the season before firing his 23rd as Manuel Pellegrini's men capitalised on Liverpool's 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
City closed within three points of the Anfield league leaders and just one of the second-placed Blues, thanks to a Toure masterclass as muscular as it was meticulous.
Toure and his team-mates are now able to draw level on points with Brendan Rodgers' men, given victory at Palace and their game in hand.
City have a trip to Everton and home clashes with Aston Villa and West Ham still to come while Liverpool travel to Palace next, before hosting Newcastle at Anfield on Sunday May 11, the final day of the season.
Pole position: Manchester City moved back into the driving seat in the title race with victory at Crystal Palace
Job done: Vincent Kompany and Javi Garcia applaud the City fans after they moved three points behind Liverpool
Closing in: Liverpool's loss earlier on Sunday means City will be champions if they win their last three games
MATCH FACTS
Crystal Palace: Speroni 5.5, Mariappa 6, Dann 6, Delaney 5, Ward 6, Puncheon 5, Jedinak 6, Ledley 5.5, Bolasie 5 (Ince 73, 6), Jerome 5 (Murray 69, 6), Chamakh 5.5 (Gayle 69, 6).
Subs not used: Parr, Dikgacoi, Gabbidon, Hennessey.
Booked: Delaney, Dann, Ward.
Man City: Hart 6.5, Zabaleta 7, Kompany 7.5, Demichelis 7, Kolarov 7.5, Milner 7, Javi Garcia 7, Toure 8.5 (Fernandinho 66, 6) , Nasri 7, Dzeko 6.5 (Negredo 88), Aguero 6.5 (Jovetic 79, 6).
Subs not used: Richards, Lescott, Clichy, Pantilimon.
Booked: Zabaleta.
Goals: Dzeko 4, Toure 43.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire), 5.
Attendance: 24,769.
Ratings by MATT BARLOW at Selhurst Park
Toure needed just four minutes to wrestle control, returning after missing two matches with thigh trouble.
The 30-year-old chipped an inch-perfect free-kick into the Palace box, positively begging Dzeko to bisect Scott Dann and Damien Delaney.
The 28-year-old Bosnia striker had little option but to ghost onto the cross and nod the visitors into the lead.
Liverpool's Anfield hiccup against Chelsea cracked the door, but Toure and company booted it open in south London.
City's earl goal quelled any nerves, evident when Sergio Aguero's ambitious overhead kick zipped just over Julian Speroni's crossbar.
Tony Pulis has whipped Palace into far sterner shape than to fold however, and the hosts threatened when Yannick Bolasie's cross almost reached Cameron Jerome.
Palace's first-half forays remained scant however, with Delaney forced to intervene as Aguero hared towards Samir Nasri's smart return ball in the home area.
Jason Puncheon might boast four goals in April, but Palace's form midfielder could find no power with a 20-yard shot.
Make some noise: Edin Dzeko gave City the lead inside four minutes at Selhurst Park
Ahead: The Bosnian beat Scott Dann and Adrian Mariappa to the ball to give City the perfect start
Out of reach: Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was left helpless as Dzeko runs off to celebrate
On the attack: Dzeko started alongside Sergio Aguero for City at Selhurst Park
Dzeko failed to connect with a far-post cross, Dann had to cut out Pablo Zabaleta's knock-down destined for Aguero, and Vincent Kompany headed wide from the corner.
So often City's central force, Toure then sealed his side's dominance with a goal of effortless class, but brutal build-up.
The Ivory Coast star played a simple one-two with Dzeko, then saw no reason not to repeat the feat with Nasri.
Rumbling into the Palace box, with defender Delaney stumbling in desperation, Toure set himself, and dinked the ball past bystander Speroni.
Palace grafted for the half's last word, but Jerome could not reach Puncheon's teasing cross.
Marouane Chamakh wasted a chance to test the shaky Martin Demichelis after the break, firing a loose pass past Bolasie when he could have scythed on undeterred.
Another sumptuous Toure chip nearly set James Milner free, before the former Barcelona fulcrum scuffed a cut-back cross after outstripping Joel Ward.
One more long-range curling effort that sailed over the bar proved Toure's final offering, the rangy midfielder withdrawn just past the hour in a clear protective measure from Pellegrini.
Palace may have been subdued on the field, but the home support was determined to toast Premier League safety, and manager Pulis' sterling turnaround job.
Aguero had a gilt-edged opportunity to extend City's lead, only to lead with the outside of his right boot and clip the ball straight at Speroni.
Palace's highly-rated keeper then kept out Dzeko's shot despite a wicked deflection off Dann.
Tom Ince had a half-hearted penalty claim rebuffed by referee Howard Webb as Palace fought to capitalise on Toure's early departure.
City were not to be denied though, leaving London with a credible title chase tucked into the bag.
Back with a bang: Yaya Toure marked his return from injury with City's second goal just before half-time
Power house: The Ivorian midfielder, who limped off at Anfield two weeks ago, doubles City's lead at Palace
Curler: Speroni could do nothing to deny Toure his goal as City moved into a 2-0 lead
Withdrawn: Toure was substituted with 25 minutes to play at Selhurst and replaced by Fernandinho
Double team: Dzeko battles for the ball with Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak and Joe Ledley
Under pressure: Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace is challenged by Aleksandar Kolarov
Happy man: Manuel Pellegrini saw his side move within three points of the Premier League leaders Liverpool
Instruction: Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis has led his team to five straight league victories
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