Matchday 32 marked the imaginary run-in start, as with just a handful of games left to be played, it’s all or nothing time for teams at the top and bottom of the table. As a result we saw some pretty solid games and some huge results that could prove pivotal come the close of the season.

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City Comeback

Manchester City’s trip to Selhurst Park looked, for a moment, like the kind of trap game that can derail a title charge. Crystal Palace struck early, energising a home crowd that lives for these giant-killing afternoons. City were unusually loose in possession, and Palace were quick to punish them, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side facing an uphill battle. For a team that had been criticised in recent weeks for occasionally drifting through matches, this was a genuine test of resolve.

But like so many times in the Guardiola era, City responded in exactly the way champions do. The midfield regained control, the tempo lifted, and the pressure became relentless. The equaliser felt inevitable; the turnaround felt like routine excellence. It wasn’t just the goals, but the composure, City played like a side confident that time alone would bring them back into the game.

At the heart of it all was Kevin De Bruyne, who once again reminded the league what it has missed during his injury-hit season. His passing cut through Palace’s defensive shape with surgical precision, and his leadership helped steady City at their most unstable moment. When he’s on song, City look like a different beast entirely, more imaginative, more incisive, more dangerous.

By the final whistle, the 4–2 score line felt like a microcosm of City’s identity: they might wobble, they might stumble, but they almost never stay down. In a close title race, this was one of those afternoons that sends a message, City remain very much in command of their own destiny.

Dropped Points

Few fixtures in world football guarantee drama like Manchester United vs Liverpool, and this one did not disappoint. Liverpool arrived at Old Trafford knowing that every point mattered in the tightest title race in years, while United were desperate for a performance that showed signs of life in an up-and-down season. The first half felt like Liverpool had control, but football isn’t won on possession alone, and that truth would define the match.

United’s comeback, sparked by Bruno Fernandes and the brilliant Kobbie Mainoo, flipped the script on its head. Fernandes took advantage of a defensive lapse with an audacious first-time strike from distance, a finish that seemed to inject belief into a previously subdued Old Trafford. Then came Mainoo’s goal, a beautifully curved effort that looked like something from a seasoned veteran rather than a teenager. It was a reminder that United’s future might be brighter than their present.

Liverpool, to their credit, refused to fold. They had created enough chances to win two matches, yet wastefulness in front of goal kept United alive. It took a late penalty from Mohamed Salah, calm, clinical, almost inevitable to, pull Liverpool level. Still, there was a sense of frustration. A draw at Old Trafford is rarely a bad result, but with City and Arsenal pushing relentlessly, this felt like two points dropped.

As the dust settled, both sides were left contemplating different kinds of regret. United will feel they could have held on; Liverpool will feel they should never have been chasing the game at all. For neutrals, though, it was another entertaining chapter in a rivalry that never fails to deliver.

Narrative

Week 32 didn’t just offer standout matches, it shaped the narrative of the title race in decisive ways. Manchester City’s comeback win felt like a momentum-builder, the sort of victory that fuels belief during the run-in. Liverpool’s draw at Old Trafford, meanwhile, had the opposite effect: a performance full of promise but lacking the ruthless edge required at this stage of the season. With Arsenal also in the mix, it was a weekend that seemed to narrow the margins even further.

One of the defining features of this season’s title battle has been how quickly the balance of power shifts. For months, it has felt as though one slip, a draw here, a defensive lapse there, could prove fatal. Week 32 captured that perfectly. City emerged looking like the most composed contenders, while Liverpool were left wrestling with a familiar problem: dominance without final product. These aren’t just results; they’re psychological blows.

The pressure on all three contenders is now immense. At this stage of the season, the conversation isn’t just about tactics or form, it’s about nerve. Can a team withstand the weight of expectation? Can they recover from setbacks within games, not just between them? City’s answer this weekend was a resounding yes. Liverpool’s was more complicated. Arsenal, watching from their vantage point in the race, understood that even failing to win comfortably in other fixtures could introduce new doubt.

Matchday 32 Player of the Week: Kevin De Bruyne With a brace that got City back into the tie with Palace, De Bruyne’s goals could be the moment where City win the title and avoid a slip-up. These goals and moments are at a premium in the late stage of the season, and so the Belgian’s efforts deserve the recognition.

Matchday 32 Game of the Week: Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool Despite taking the lead, Liverpool were pegged back to United who went 2-1 up until the 84th minute when Salah converted a penalty to share the points in the derby. A big result in terms of title hopes for the visitors, and European hopes for the hosts which could play a key role come the end of the year.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the thirty-second round of fixtures, and what you’re looking forward to in the next game week.