Shock EPL home defeats for Man City, Chelsea
ROY HODGSON’S Crystal Palace claimed a shock 3-2 victory against defending champions Manchester City yesterday to end the only 100 per cent home record in the English Premier League.
No one could have predicted what was to come when Ilkay Gundogan gave second-placed City a 27th-minute lead.
Struggling Palace hit back, however, through Jeffrey Schlupp, Andros Townsend, and a Luka Milivojevic penalty as the London club registered its first league win at City for 28 years.
Kevin De Bruyne grabbed a late second goal for City, but defeat left Pep Guardiola’s men four points behind Liverpool (48) at the top of the standings following the leaders’ 2-0 victory at Wolverhampton on Friday.
On a day of top-flight upsets, former England striker Jamie Vardy scored the only goal to guide Leicester to a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge and inflict fourth-placed Chelsea’s first home league defeat of the season.
Arsenal, in fifth, drew level on points (37) with Chelsea after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice in a 3-1 win over Burnley at the Emirates.
Southampton won for the second successive match under new coach Ralph Hasenhuttl when it defeated Huddersfield 3-1, while Watford ended West Ham’s run of four consecutive victories by winning 2-0 at the London Stadium.
Bournemouth beat Brighton 2-0, and Newcastle’s home game with Fulham ended 0-0. In the day’s late match, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, taking charge of Manchester United for the first time, saw his club emerge easy 5-1 winners over hosts Cardiff. Jesse Lingard scored twice for sixth-placed United (28 points).
STUNNING VOLLEY
At Manchester City, Crystal Palace’s three goals included a stunning volley by Andros Townsend. The other goals came from Jeffrey Schlupp and Luka Milivojevic from the penalty spot.
Man City fell four points behind leaders Liverpool with one round to go before the midway stage of the campaign. It was City’s first league defeat at Etihad Stadium since April.
Palace hadn’t won a league game at City since 1990 and went behind to a header from Ilkay Gundogan in the 27th minute.
Schlupp equalised for the visitors in the 33rd when he beat Ederson with a low left-footed shot across goal before a magnificent left-footed shot from Townsend into the top-right corner put Palace ahead two minutes later.
Milivojevic converted his penalty in the 51st after a foul by Kyle Walker on Max Meyer.
Palace had a nervous finish after City substitute Kevin De Bruyne made it 3-2 in the 85th with an apparent cross, which goalkeeper Vicente Guaita couldn’t keep out.
The defeat was City’s second in three league games and handed the title initiative to Liverpool. The two teams meet on January 3.