NIGHT ON THE TOWN
Kop celebrates Andros stunner
LIVERPOOL were the real winners as champions and title favourites Manchester City suffered a shock defeat.
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who arrive at The Etihad in 12 days for a title showdown, maintained their four-point lead over City thanks to Crystal Palace securing a famous win.
It was 28 years to the day since Palace last managed a league win in Manchester. And Liverpool fans looking for an omen will note that was the year – 1990 – when they last won the title.
Palace gave Liverpool’s title push a huge boost with this deserved win, which included a stunning contender for goal of the season from Andros Townsend, a breathtaking 30-yard volley that will be hard for any player to better.
To put this result into context, this was City’s first defeat to a side outside of the Premier League’s top six since their 4-0 defeat at Everton in January 2017, a run of 52 games. And it was a second Premier League defeat in three games, following their 2-0 loss at Chelsea.
It has raised some questions about City’s title defence – and whether Pep Guardiola and his players have what it takes to retain the trophy they won so emphatically last season.
While his players underperformed, Guardiola must shoulder some of the blame, leaving Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero on the bench and using central defender John Stones in the holding midfield role.
Stones never looked convincing or comfortable in midfield, while the introduction of De Bruyne, who came on and scored to give City hope, came too late for them to salvage anything from the game. All over the pitch City had players who fell short. Keeper Ederson was beaten three times, the hapless Kyle Walker was blanked by Guardiola as he left the pitch at the final whistle and the front three of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus had a collective shocker.
City even struck first, in the 27th minute, Fabian Delph picking out Ilkay Gundogan, the midfielder ghosting into the six-yard box to direct a header beyond the reach of Vicente Guaita.
Roy Hodgson’s side drew level just six minutes later.
There seemed little danger when Jeffrey Schlupp picked up possession on the edge of the City area after a Stones tackle on James McArthur sent the ball straight into his path.
Schlupp took full advantage of Walker’s hesitant defending, creating enough space to drill a low angled shot that gave Ederson no chance.
City were still reeling from that setback when they found themselves behind two minutes later. Again, there seemed nothing on when Bernardo headed the ball out but Townsend struck the sweetest volley with Ederson powerless.
Guardiola waited just a few minutes after the restart before bringing on Aguero for Nicolas Otamendi.
That meant Stones, out of his depth in midfield, switched back to his more familiar central defensive role.
But City’s task was made even harder six minutes after the restart when Walker made a rash challenge, in keeping with his woeful display, to clip Max Meyer and concede a penalty.
Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic stepped up to beat Ederson.
De Bruyne gave City hope five minutes from time with an angled cross which dipped under the bar and over the line. But it proved to be false hope. Palace held on for a famous victory, although the real winners here were the red half of Merseyside who can capitalise further when they travel down the M62 on January 3.