Crystal Palace 0 Man City 0: Title race blown wide open as Silva, De Bruyne and Mahrez all go agonisingly close
WE HAVE lift off. If there were any doubts about the chances of a bloody good title race, they were properly blown to pieces in deepest South London. And now, unbelievably, when you consider the gap at one stage, the title is in Liverpool’s hands. No need to worry about goal difference. Just win their […]
WE HAVE lift off.
If there were any doubts about the chances of a bloody good title race, they were properly blown to pieces in deepest South London.
And now, unbelievably, when you consider the gap at one stage, the title is in Liverpool’s hands.
No need to worry about goal difference.
Just win their remaining games, including the trip to the Etihad on April 10, and Jurgen Klopp’s team will pip Manchester City to the title.
Despite Liverpool’s fine form, no one can say they definitely saw this coming.
But a month after their home defeat to Spurs, City have delivered another little wobble against an incredibly hard-working Palace side.
There is obviously a hell of a lot to play for. City’s squad is still better than Liverpool’s.
But… how Pep Guardiola could regret this result.
For the most part, Guardiola stood in his technical area, looking reasonably calm.
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If he was panicking, then he was doing a good job to hide it.
Equally, despite his team failing to take their chances, Guardiola refused to make any substitutions which was odd.
Maybe, he was hoping that as usual, one of City’s supremely-talented players would nick them a win but it failed to happen.
Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo all had chances.
Many of them. Including a great one in injury time.
Now, Liverpool have to do their bit against Arsenal on Wednesday.
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City wasted so many chances, even in the first half, and you just thought that finally, something would click and they would win 3-0.
Guardiola’s side were also guilty of silly mistakes early on through Laptore and Kyle Walker but they got away with it.
As the errors continued, Palace keeper Vicente Guaita spilled Kevin de Bruyne’s shot towards Bernardo Silva but he, too, was not as sharp as normal and his first touch was too heavy and went out for a goal-kick.
Predictably, City clicked up a gear, albeit into about third. They created enough chances but were not clinical enough.
After Phil Foden’s bobbling shot was deflected for a corner, Cancelo’s long-range drive hammered against the post and the rebound fell to the wrong player as Laporte sent a first-time shot flying into the Holmesdale Road stand.
Riyad Mahrez, with 13 goals in his previous 14 City appearances, struck a shot right at Guaita in an area he would expect to score from.
Mahrez then delivered another wild finish, certainly by his high standards, just before the break.
Maybe Guardiola was not happy with what he had seen but City came out early for the second half, a good minute or so before referee Martin Atkinson and Palace, who had not created too much.
But shortly into the second half, they were handed one of those rare opportunities which you need to take against City.
Cheikhou Kouyate got his angles mixed up and did not realise he was in such a good position but he steered a header wide.
Jack Grealish, suffering a quiet game on the left, showed some real determination and speed to catch Conor Gallagher who led a home break.
Yet Grealish caught up with his man, fouled his man and was booked by Atkinson.
The England international then applauded the decision sarcastically, which is always a dangerous game but Grealish got away with it.
Yet Grealish redeemed himself with a moment of class which created a move that led to De Bruyne shooting against the far post from a tight angle and Mahrez’s follow-up was tipped over by Guaita.
Then somehow, Silva, from just two yards out, managed to turn Grealish’s cross wide when it looked pretty impossible to not score.
As City’s frustrations grew, Rodri started a scuffle as he gestured for Kouyate to get off the floor as he writhed around in agony after no contact.
Substitute Odsonne Edouard caused some panic in the visiting defence but got the ball stuck between his feet when he threatened to score a late winner
Laporte missed a fine chance at the start of the five added mixtures as he made a complete mess of a header from De Bruyne’s free-kick.
At the end, the City stats read 74 per cent possession, 18 shots and four on target.
Crucially, though, no goals – and one point.
