Manchester City moved to the brink of a third Premier League title in four seasons as a piece of magic by Sergio Aguero set them on the way to a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side were totally dominant but missing a cutting edge until Aguero’s stunning half-volley finish just before the hour mark broke Palace’s resolve at Selhurst Park.

A minute later Ferran Torres’s clinical low shot doubled City’s advantage and they could have racked up a bigger margin of victory as they turned on the style with Raheem Sterling denied by the woodwork and Joao Cancelo also going close.

With four games left, City have 80 points, 13 ahead of Manchester United who host Liverpool on Sunday knowing that defeat would seal the title for their neighbours.

“It was a long time that I hadn’t played 90 minutes,” Aguero, who scored only his second league goal of an injury-hit season, told BT Sport.

“The goal was good because maybe we can win the Premier League. We wait for tomorrow. Every game is difficult. Of course, if Liverpool win it’s better.”

Should United draw on Sunday they could still mathematically catch City but their goal difference is far inferior. If United win, City can seal the title by beating Chelsea next weekend.

After being left in the shade by Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp last season, Guardiola knows City are as good as champions. “We can start to put the champagne in the fridge — not to open yet, but it is there,” he said.

The embarrassing wealth of options available to Guardiola was evident again as he left the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker on the bench, with one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain which they lead 2-1.

Yet his starting line-up still oozed quality with an attacking quartet of Aguero, Sterling, Jesus and Torres.

Sterling, whose place in the team is no longer guaranteed, should have put City ahead after skipping into the box but he delayed his shot and his effort was blocked.